Vodacom SA expands LTE to 80% of population

Vodacom South Africa has achieved 4G LTE population coverage of 80%, claiming to be the first operator in South Africa to reach this target. The operator added that 3G and 2G population coverage currently stand at 99.78% and 99.97%, respectively. The improved coverage has been achieved following the introduction of an accelerated rural coverage programme in 2017; areas recently benefiting from better connection speeds include Sterkfontein in Limpopo, Brandfort in the Free State, and Sundays River Valley in the Eastern Cape. CTO Andries Delport also revealed that the company has invested ZAR39.7 billion (USD3.3 billion) in its South African networks in the past five years.