https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

MTN injects R624m into Eastern Cape network expansion

3rd May 2022

By: Natasha Odendaal

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

Telecommunications group MTN is investing R624-million to upgrade and deploy new network infrastructure across the Eastern Cape this year.

The investment forms part of MTN’s ‘Modernisation of Network South Africa’, or Monza, project to expand network reach into rural communities, drive 5G expansion and work to restore vandalised network infrastructure.

“We are working across the country to modernise the entire MTN network. Just over 68% has already been completed nationally, and the Eastern Cape is our next focus area,” said MTN South Africa Eastern Cape GM Maria Soares van Niekerk.

“While we have invested in improving data speeds and connections in the short term, this plan is longer-term in nature, securing resilience, stability, quality and helping us expand our reach significantly.”

The company currently provides coverage to over 98% of the population in the Eastern Cape province and the project will increase this network coverage, improve throughputs, and elevate customer experience.

MTN is planning to focus on 491 towers as part of its network resilience and optimisation programme, this will see various areas receive increased coverage and capacity.

Network modernisation across 187 sites is already 68% complete and largely focused on East London, Mthatha and the Queenstown sub-region.

MTN will also extend its fifth-generation (5G) connectivity across the region, with another 18 5G sites planned for 2022, adding to the current 94 live 5G sites.

“A key determinant of the success of the MTN modernisation project, however, is the ongoing problem of battery theft and tower vandalism,” said Soares van Niekerk.

“Across the region, 45% of sites in Queenstown sub-region and 44% of sites in Mthatha sub-region will therefore get new batteries to improve network resilience in 2022. This is over and above the R650-million invested in 2021, with 2 600 base station batteries replaced nationally.”

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

Willard
Willard

Rooted in the hearts of South Africans, combining technology and a quest for perfection to bring you a battery of peerless standing. Willard...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
The Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa
Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa

The Steel Tube Export Association of South Africa was established to develop sustainable, internationally competitive carbon steel tube and pipe...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.054 1.146s - 142pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now