Johannesburg: AfricUpdate – News Desk
Vodacom Eastern Cape region is investing more than R400 million in network infrastructure this financial year, underscoring its commitment to expanding coverage, enhancing capacity, and empowering deep rural communities across the province. This investment will drive the rollout of advanced technologies, including 4G and 5G, and extend connectivity to underserved rural areas.
Of the total spend, over R38 million is allocated to network modernisation to enable 4G and 5G technologies, with more than R87 million dedicated to network capacity expansion. Over R8 million will go towards core network upgrades to support network infrastructure needs. Transmission infrastructure investment for the 2025 financial year stands at over R51 million.
As part of Vodacom’s commitment to driving digital inclusion, expanding coverage continues to be a key priority for the region. To increase coverage in deep rural areas, connecting many communities for the first time, Vodacom Eastern Cape will be investing close to R100 million in municipalities such as Great Kei, Nyandeni, Mhlontlo, Mbizana, Matatiele, Mnquma, Ntabankulu, Ngqushwa and Umzimvubu, to mention a few.
The region also plans to enhance existing coverage while providing new coverage for both the private and public sectors, supporting economic development in the province. Additionally, advanced technologies, including 5G deployment will be rolled out in Amahlathi, Elundini, Enoch Mgijima, Engcobo, Ingquza Hill, Inxuba Yethemba, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Makana and Engcobo municipalities.
To further support this ambition, Vodacom Eastern Cape is addressing affordability barriers that prevent many people from fully participating in the digital economy. The region offers personalised data and voice packages through Vodacom’s Just 4 You and Just 4 Your Town platforms, which deliver tailored deals based on customer behaviour and location, ensuring that customers can connect at lower costs suited to their specific needs.
Through Vodacom’s Easy2Own initiative, customers in the Eastern Cape can access smartphones via an affordable device financing model which costs as little as R6.50 per day, enabling them to transition from basic connectivity to 4G- and 5G-enabled handsets. This is helping to increase smartphone penetration in the region and empower more residents to benefit from advanced digital services.
In a critical effort to empower the youth of the Eastern Cape, Vodacom has collaborated with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and technology providers to grant young individuals access to digital skills, reinforcing the telcos commitment to enhancing digital literacy for Africa’s future generation. In partnership with AWS, Microsoft, Skillsoft, and other organisations, Vodacom seeks to close the digital skills gap across eight African nations and to upskill one million young people by the year 2027.
The Vodacom Group Digital Skills Hub is operational in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya, aiming to empower the upcoming generation of digital innovators, thereby fostering Africa’s digital society and utilising existing e-learning platforms within these markets.
