Cell C explains how next big network change will work

Cell C is close to enabling Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) roaming with Vodacom, unlocking several benefits for its customers.

Cell C chief technology officer Schalk Visser recently told MyBroadband that they expect to roll out the upgrade to the first sites before the end of 2024.

Visser said they expect Vodacom MOCN roaming on Cell C to be fully implemented in the first quarter of next year.

MOCN roaming allows multiple core networks to share the same radio access network.

This lets them coordinate with each other regarding interference, backhaul, traffic prioritisation, individual user authentication, and quality of service parameters.

From a subscriber’s perspective, the most evident change will be that their phone’s cellular connection icon will no longer show that it is roaming.

Once MOCN is live, Cell C subscribers roaming on Vodacom can disable data roaming on their smartphones.

This is useful for international travellers who don’t want to worry about accidentally forgetting to switch off data roaming when they leave South Africa — a potentially costly mistake.

Enabling MOCN through its roaming agreement with Vodacom will also allow Cell C to more seamlessly move subscribers between its two network partners.

Currently, Cell C’s postpaid customers mainly roam on Vodacom, while its prepaid and mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) customers use a network operated by MTN.

MOCN roaming has already been launched on the network MTN builds and operates for Cell C.

Cell C finished switching off its own tower network in June last year, with MTN providing a “virtual radio access network” for its prepaid and MVNO customers.

MVNOs using Cell C include Capitec Connect and Shoprite K’nect.

Under the terms of its deal, MTN builds and operates a radio access network that uses Cell C’s frequency spectrum.

In addition, Cell C subscribers can roam on MTN’s towers.

In exchange, MTN gets access to a portion of Cell C’s spectrum, which it pools with its own to achieve a large chunk of contiguous bandwidth.

Visser said that when their Vodacom MOCN roaming comes online, Cell C will be able to offer subscribers the best of both worlds.

However, they will not be able to seamlessly handover between Vodacom and MTN towers, as that would be too taxing on Cell C’s core network.

Instead, Cell C will continuously analyse which network performs best in a particular area and, based on the results, determine how subscribers will connect to them.

Cell C said this would not only offer subscribers the best possible connection but also encourage even fiercer competition between Vodacom and MTN.

Cell C CEO Jorge Mendes has also revealed more details about the renegotiations of their agreements with Vodacom and MTN.

Mendes said they secured a 5-year deal with Vodacom and a 9-year deal with MTN — both on much more favourable terms than before.

The MTN deal went into effect on 1 January, and the Vodacom deal went into effect on 1 April.

These new agreements covered aspects like quality of service, spectrum usage, pricing, data allocations (measured in petabytes), annual price escalations, and anticipated traffic growth.

Mendes described the renegotiated agreements as “really, really good deals” that established sustainable contracts, ensuring the company’s viability for at least the next five to nine years.

As part of Cell C’s financial turnaround plan, the operator abandoned notions that it could build a radio access network to rival Vodacom and MTN.

South Africa’s two largest mobile operators each pump roughly R10 billion into their South African networks every year.

Mendes said for anyone to compete, they would have to invest at least R35–R40 billion and an additional R8–R10 billion annually.