VODACOM is investing R500 million in the Eastern Cape region in modernising the network, energy projects and accelerating broadband coverage, which can potentially boost business.
The bulk of the expenditure will go towards modernising the network infrastructure, followed by deploying new network sites, rolling out the 5G network, and launching new LTE coverage, utilising the allotted spectrum from ICASA.
This rollout will enable better connectivity and improved network speeds for the end-user. The region plans to focus this investment on the three bays of the Eastern Cape footprint. This includes Lower Bay (Gqeberha to Makhanda and the Port Alfred area); Central Bay (sites along the N10 and surroundings); and Upper Bay (Qonce, Monti and up to the Kei Mouth area), bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas of the province.
The telco which has transformed into a ‘techco,’ currently provides 5G services to enterprises in the province. Zakhele Jiyane, managing executive for Vodacom Eastern Cape region says there are still significant volumes of enterprise M2M/IoT devices on the network. “In addition to asset tracking and management, our IoT devices are also used in industrial plants, access control, and agriculture to name just a few.
“Critically, we are living in a new era of connectivity with the introduction of fifth generation (5G) network. It provides significant capacity, very low latency, and great data speeds. The development of 5G technology holds great promise for transforming suburban and urban landscapes and opening the door to smart, sustainable communities.
“5G networks will revolutionise energy management, environmental monitoring, healthcare and transportation in urban areas. 5G is essential to the Internet of Things (IoT) as it provides faster speeds and this increase in speed will allow IoT devices, including those with healthcare and industry applications, to communicate and share data faster than ever.
“We are confident that the rollout of 5G will help us to bridge South Africa’s digital divide in the long-term by promoting digital inclusion. As a more efficient technology than its predecessors, 5G is designed to more efficiently meet the rapidly increasing connectivity requirements of modern society. The widespread rollout of 5G will support government’s 4IR objectives in future and will facilitate the creation of an entirely new technologically enabled world.”
In a predominantly rural province, Jiyane says 5G networks have benefits for both remote and urban areas and that connectivity and remote locations are no longer mutually exclusive. “It is possible to connect plants in remote areas and to do this we deploy a fibre network connectivity medium in order to enable superb 5G services,” he says.
Rural connectivity
In line with Vodacom’s strategy to ‘bridge the digital divide,’ the company is investing in expanding quality coverage by constructing new base station sites in deep rural areas. In the Eastern Cape, areas including Port St Johns, Mbizana, Mnquma, Ingquza Hill and Elundini should benefit from improved connectivity once these sites are commissioned.
Conveying the impact this can have on businesses in these areas, Jiyane says, “Connectivity and or internet access is the lifeblood of today’s business world. Better customer service, shorter reaction times, and more effective operations are all possible with improved network connectivity. For example, businesses can use the connectivity to adopt the use of Kwika, Vodacom’s point-of-sale (POS) solution for their business and qualify for a VodaLend Business Cash Advance.”
Acknowledging that the cost to communicate is a critical issue for customers under economic pressure, Vodacom Eastern Cape introduced personalised discounted voice and data offers, such as Just4You and Just4YourTown bundles, for residents in certain towns in the region to make connectivity more affordable. “All the towns have got different tailor made offers available, the customer just needs to dial *123# to access the offers,” says Jiyane.
To mitigate the risks of increasing theft and vandalism at sites, as well as power disruptions on the national grid, Vodacom Eastern Cape is channelling tens of millions of rands into security upgrades and more millions will be invested in enhancing backup power supply at base station towers.
