Cell C has confirmed that it intends to deploy an additional 100 base transceiver stations (BTS) in Johannesburg over the next three months in a bid to increase network capacity and improve its quality of service. TechCentral reports that the first 19 will be operational by the end of August, and will supplement the operator’s existing 959 cell sites in the city. The move comes amid growing criticism from consumers over the quality of the operator’s coverage in the city. Areas earmarked for additional coverage in Johannesburg include: Sandton, Fourways, Bryanston, Morningside, Soweto and Benoni.
The online journal quotes CEO Alan Knott-Craig as saying: ‘[Cell C has been] hard at work rolling out new sites and installing additional capacity to cater for this growth and restore quality. In particular, the network in Johannesburg and Pretoria has been taking strain. In addition to the new sites, we have also embarked on a project to optimise close to 900 existing sites in Johannesburg and Pretoria to improve coverage and minimise interference on the network in high-density areas. We expect these activities to be completed by the end of November 2013’. By the end of 2013 the CEO estimates that Cell C will have 4,340 outdoor and indoor sites operational.