Telecommunications company MTN to allocate R300 million for enhancement of their Gauteng network infrastructure
MTN's Nationwide 5G and LTE Network Upgrade in South Africa
MTN South Africa has announced a nationwide infrastructure upgrade worth R4.5 billion by 2025, aiming to improve mobile connectivity and bridge the digital divide across the country.
The upgrade, which includes investments in both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, will introduce 5G capabilities and enhance LTE performance. Machawe Dlamini, General Manager for Gauteng Operations at MTN SA, emphasized that this investment will strengthen digital capabilities and promote broader digital inclusion throughout South Africa.
In Gauteng, the investment will be used for upgrading existing infrastructure, adding new base stations, and enhancing over 70 network sites. The aim is to boost coverage and expand capacity in urban and rural communities, improving service quality and meeting the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.
The network upgrade in Gauteng will extend high-speed connectivity to underserved parts of the province, including densely populated townships and outlying peri-urban areas. The upgrade is part of broader efforts to harden the network against load shedding and service disruptions.
The completion of the infrastructure upgrade in Gauteng is set for the end of 2025, similar to the timeline for the KwaZulu-Natal upgrade. In KwaZulu-Natal, MTN has pledged an additional R480 million (over $27 million) for the network infrastructure upgrade, in addition to the R300 million committed for Gauteng.
The infrastructure upgrade in KwaZulu-Natal will introduce 5G capabilities and enhance LTE performance, similar to the Gauteng investment. It will also extend high-speed connectivity to underserved parts of the province, including densely populated townships and outlying peri-urban areas.
Dlamini emphasized that investing in network infrastructure is vital to bridging the digital divide in South Africa. The upgrade is part of a broader national effort to improve mobile connectivity across the country.
MTN South Africa has been recognized for its efforts, having been named the country's best mobile network for Q1 2025, according to the MyBroadband Insights Network Quality Q2 2025 report. The company's commitment to network innovation, including satellite direct-to-mobile calls, is a testament to its dedication to providing top-tier mobile services to South Africans.
By the end of 2025, MTN in Gauteng plans to have mostly completed its 3G switch-off, expanded LTE coverage, and rolled out advanced 5G capabilities, following South Africa’s national telecommunications evolution strategy. Specific phased timing by district or city within Gauteng has not been publicly outlined in detail.
[1] "MTN South Africa 3G Migration Timeline" - [source] [2] "MTN South Africa's Network Innovation" - [source] [3] "South African Operators Move Towards 5G-Advanced Networks" - [source]
- To further propel digital inclusion in South Africa, MTN SA is also investing R480 million in KwaZulu-Natal for data-and-cloud-computing advancements, aiming to enhance digital capabilities in the industry, particularly in real-estate and finance sectors by leveraging 5G and LTE network upgrades.
- As part of its digital transformation drive, MTN SA's network upgrade will not only boost upcoming technology but will also capitalize on investing in securing high-speed connections for the finance sector, enabling quicker transactions and data processing.
- The technology-focused network upgrade by MTN SA in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal sparks an exciting potential for real-estate development, as property markets could benefit from real-time data access with the increased LTE performance and 5G capabilities, attracting investors to areas previously underserved.
