8ta jumps on the LTE bandwagon with free Gauteng trial

Telkom Mobile (8ta) has become the latest South African mobile operator to confirm its intentions to launch Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, IT News Africa reports. Customers within 8ta’s LTE coverage areas across the Gauteng region will be able to apply to participate in a free trial between 1 November 2012 and 31 March 2013. The LTE service will comprise a 50GB data bundle and an LTE-enabled device. Senior managing executive for Telkom Mobile, Amith Maharaj, commented: ‘We are excited about this milestone reached and we believe that this trial is a critical step in taking a new technology like this to market’. As previously reported by TeleGeography’s CommsUpdate, 8ta’s domestic rivals MTN, Vodacom and Cell C have all confirmed that they will switch on their respective 4G networks before the end of 2012.