Vodacom Central Region has switched on its fifth-generation (5G) mobile network in Kimberly, in the Northern Cape.
Thanks to the launch, Vodacom customers with 5G-enabled devices, and within a 5G coverage area, are now able to access the new 5G network in the Northern Cape.
Vodacom already offers 5G services across the Free State, Gauteng, the Western Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal.
“Critically, the latest mobile networking technology will ultimately help the region bridge the digital divide between the urban and rural areas of the province by extending access to affordable mobile broadband, especially as an alternative to fibre connectivity in underserviced township areas,” says Vodacom Central Region managing executive Evah Mthimunye.
“It promises much higher download and upload speeds, lower latency and far greater capacity, speed and increased coverage.”
In addition, 5G is about 10 times faster than 4G and is designed to work at average speeds of 150 Mb/s to 200 Mb/s, with peak speeds that can reach above 1 Gb/s.
“This means people will be able to download a full 4K film in about three minutes, compared with over 15 minutes on 4G,” Mthimunye adds.
The 5G network also enables cloud gaming, remote education and remote healthcare, as well as enable the more efficient operation of smart city infrastructure, besides others.
“More 5G devices are expected to become accessible to South Africans in future. Already we are seeing the introduction of increasingly cost-effective 5G-enabled smartphones around the world, not just in the premium segment but also in the midtier segment,” Mthimunye concludes.