Vodacom has officially expanded its 5G mobile network to reach more than 60% of South Africa’s population, marking a significant leap in the country’s digital infrastructure. According to spokesperson Byron Kennedy, this milestone reflects a massive surge in demand for high-speed connectivity, with the number of 5G-capable devices on the network more than doubling over the past year.
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Vodacom’s current coverage is supported by a robust network of over 4,000 5G sites. This progress is particularly striking when viewed over a short timeline: by the end of 2023, the operator had covered 30% of the population. Doubling that footprint to 60% in just two years highlights a localized “space race” for next-generation data dominance.
While Vodacom was the first to launch commercial 5G in South Africa back in May 2020, competitors MTN and Telkom have followed with distinct strategies. While MTN initially expanded faster, the two leading operators now maintain similar coverage levels. Independent network testing has frequently identified Vodacom as the performance leader; for instance, in mid-2025, Vodacom recorded average download speeds of 260 Mbps, significantly outpacing MTN’s 195 Mbps.
To maintain its speed advantage, Vodacom has pioneered new hardware deployments across Africa. In August 2025, the operator became the first on the continent to deploy Dual-Band Massive Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) radio technology. This hardware integrates the 3.5GHz and 2.6GHz spectrum bands into a single unit, drastically increasing bandwidth and efficiency.
Looking toward the remainder of 2026, the company’s strategy focuses on “ubiquitous coverage,” specifically targeting remote and underserved communities to bridge the digital divide.
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The competitive landscape remains varied. MTN recently stated it was targeting its own 60% coverage milestone by the end of 2025, supported by 4,000 active sites. Telkom, meanwhile, has adopted a more conservative, “demand-led” approach. Rather than chasing broad population statistics, Telkom prioritizes high-quality deployment in areas where device readiness and usage patterns justify the investment.
For many rural areas, Telkom notes that the existing 4G foundation remains the most appropriate technology for reliable broadband access, ensuring that network evolution remains commercially sustainable while still addressing connectivity gaps.
