Telecommunications giant MTN has kicked off a three-year contract that would see street lamps and pole masts equipped with antennas to improve network coverage and quality across west and northern Johannesburg.
MTN this week started installing antennas on street light poles and erecting purpose-built pole masts with zero visual impact, as the density of the buildings in the region made the deployment of conventional base stations prohibitive, impacting negatively on network coverage and quality.
City Power awarded MTN the three-year contract after inviting interested parties to submit requests for proposals on its plan to commercialise its infrastructure.
The new “pole sites”, which would have a coverage radius of 400 m to 600 m, could also be used for services, such as security cameras and additional lighting, required by residents, MTN South Africa CTO Eben Albertyn said in a statement on Wednesday.
The first pole site was installed in Bryanston, with a number of suburbs in Randburg, Fourways, Bryanston and Saxonwold to be targeted during the four-month first phase.
The number of poles installed would depend on customer density in the targeted areas.
The second phase of the project would be determined by customer requirements, he explained.