Vodacom unveils 4G tower in Limpopo village

Vodacom has unveiled a new 4G site in Thathe Vondo village, located in Thohoyandou, Limpopo, which it says will bring fast Internet connectivity and mobile access to thousands of households in the area.

At the unveiling, a Vodacom delegation from Limpopo was joined by His Majesty Mailausumbwa Thovhele Vho-MPK Tshivhase, all members of the Tshivhase Traditional Council, and community members.

Located in the Tshivhase Nature Reserve, the new station was built through Vodacom’s Rural Coverage Network Expansion programme, which aims to expand network access for people living in deep rural areas in the country.

“The programme aims to ramp up network infrastructure outside of urban areas by developing new ways of reducing the cost of deploying and operating rural network sites to achieve further expansion,” says Vodacom.

“Ultimately, this will connect even more people, so they participate in the Digital Era and reap the associated economic benefits.”

Executive Head of Operations for Vodacom Limpopo, Omphile Mosagedi, said the connectivity will provide residents with access to transformative digital services, such as eEducation, eHealth, eGovernment services, and financial opportunities.

“School-going kids can now access the Internet for the first time and have the option of using online learning platforms, whilst those who are actively looking for jobs can now use their smartphones to access jobs portals that are zero-rated for Vodacom subscribers,” he said.

He added that community members who used to travel long distances to make calls or access online banking can now do so from the comfort of their own home without having to pay for travel.

His Majesty Mailausumbwa Thovhele Vho-MPK Tshivhase thanked Vodacom for its investment in the area, adding that the connectivity will contribute to the economic growth and empowerment of community members.

Vodacom has invested over R750 million in network rollout and capacity upgrades in Limpopo in the past two years. It says it has deployed 14 new base station sites in Thohoyandou in this financial year alone.

“Providing network connectivity for people who reside in rural areas remains central to Vodacom’s commitment to drive digital inclusion in the communities in which the company operates,” says Vodacom.

“Moreover, this is part of the telco’s vision to make sure that it connects everyone whether they live in the cities, townships or in rural areas, and that takes investment.”