JOHANNESBERG, July 23 – MTN South Africa is investing $9.1 million this year to strengthen its mobile network in the North West province, as the country’s largest telecom operator increases its focus on improving connectivity outside its biggest cities.
The investment will be used to upgrade more than 1,000 network sites, expand 4G and 5G coverage, and build new towers in Mahikeng, Klerksdorp and Taung, according to Deputy Chief Executive Officer Yolanda Cuba.
The move shows a wider shift in South Africa’s telecom industry, where operators are channelling more investment toward smaller cities and rural communities as demand for faster mobile broadband continues to grow.
Cuba said the next stage of competition is no longer about being the first to launch 5G, but about providing reliable, high-capacity connectivity in areas that have long been underserved. She added that stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors will be important in extending the benefits of the digital economy to more communities.
Much of the funding will go toward upgrading existing infrastructure rather than building entirely new networks, a strategy aimed at improving customer experience while keeping investment costs under control.
The expansion follows a growing industry trend. MTN, Vodacom, Telkom and Rain have all continued to invest in 4G and 5G services since South Africa’s spectrum auction. While Vodacom has expanded its rural 5G coverage, Telkom has focused on fixed-wireless broadband beyond major metropolitan areas.
MTN said the latest investment will improve network capacity and widen access to high-quality digital services across the province.
