Vodacom hits a milestone in South Africa
South Africa’s largest cellular network provider, Vodacom, has expanded its 5G mobile network to more than 60% of the country’s population.
Vodacom spokesperson Byron Kennedy revealed the milestone in recent feedback to MyBroadband about progress in rolling out the latest generation of cellular connectivity.
Kennedy explained that Vodacom had observed growing demand for superior connectivity services and seen strong 5G adoption in the last year.
“5G-capable devices have more than doubled on our network over the last twelve months,” he said. Vodacom’s coverage is supported by more than 4,000 5G sites across South Africa.
Vodacom was the first cellular network in South Africa to roll out commercial mobile 5G services. It launched its first towers that support the technology in May 2020.
By the end of 2023, Vodacom had covered 30% of South Africa’s population with 5G. That coverage has doubled in just two years.
Concerning the operator’s strategy for 2026, Kennedy said that Vodacom was pursuing ubiquitous coverage and would continue expanding 4G and 5G coverage, especially in remote communities.
They aim to enable all Vodacom customers to benefit from these services, driving the company’s goal of building an inclusive digital society.
Only two other operators offer mobile 5G connectivity in South Africa — MTN and Telkom. MTN launched its 5G network about a month after Vodacom and initially expanded its coverage faster.
In more recent years, the two operators’ coverage levels have been similar. MyBroadband Insights’ tests of 5G networks in South Africa have also frequently found Vodacom’s to be the fastest.
For example, in June 2025, Vodacom’s 5G network recorded an average download speed of 260Mbps, compared with MTN’s 195Mbps.
It has continued to invest in cutting-edge 5G tech to improve on this performance. In August 2025, it was the first in Africa to deploy Dual-Band Massive Multiple Input, Multiple Output radio on its network.
The technology integrates two spectrum bands — n78 (3.5GHz) and B41 (2.6GHz) — into a single compact unit, improving 5G download speeds and bandwidth.
MTN and Telkom’s progress
MyBroadband also asked MTN and Telkom about their mobile 5G network growth. MTN did not provide feedback by the time of publication.
In its most recent public update, MTN said it had 4,000 5G sites in South Africa and was targeting 60% 5G population coverage in the country by the end of 2025.
Telkom explained its 5G rollout was deliberately demand-led rather than pursuing broad, headline-driven coverage.
“Our priority has been to ensure that where 5G is deployed, it delivers a high-quality, consistent and reliable experience for customers and enterprise users alike,” Telkom said.
“This approach enables us to align investment with real usage patterns, device readiness and commercial sustainability, ensuring that our network evolution is both responsible and future-focused.”
In 2026, Telkom’s network strategy will reflect a balanced commitment to both next-generation capability and inclusive connectivity.
“We will continue to enhance 5G in high-demand areas where it meaningfully improves customer experience and supports advanced use cases,”
“We remain equally focused on addressing connectivity gaps, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
Telkom said in many instances, this will mean prioritising the most appropriate technology to deliver reliable broadband access first.
“South Africa benefits from a strong 4G foundation that continues to serve the majority of consumer needs effectively,” it said.
Loading ...