Vodacom has announced an investment of over R435 million for the northern Gauteng area during the current financial year, which ends in March 2026. According to Business Day, this funding will focus on critical infrastructure upgrades, new site deployments, and advanced technology rollouts designed to meet increasing customer demand and support economic growth across North West province and Tshwane municipality.
As South Africa’s largest mobile provider, Vodacom invests billions annually to build, update, and maintain its network infrastructure. For the financial year ending in March, the group allocated R11.6 billion for its network in South Africa, with plans to increase this to R12 billion in the upcoming financial year.
Key Investment Areas
For the 2025/26 period, Vodacom’s investment in the Northern Gauteng Area (NGA) will include the establishment of over 190 new 5G sites, along with upgrades to 4G coverage through the installation of new 700MHz radio equipment. The company will also deploy new sites in underserved areas, providing broadband connectivity for the first time to communities like Ikagaleng township near Zeerust, which is expected to enhance educational access and community connectivity.
To stimulate data usage in the region, Vodacom aims to reduce costs and offer affordable smartphone options. This strategy comes amid declining voice and SMS revenue, as mobile operators seek to increase network usage. Making devices more accessible not only benefits consumers but also expands the customer base for mobile providers, ultimately enhancing data service volumes and profitability.
Commitment to Community
Vodacom’s significant investment underscores its commitment to empowering communities through improved connectivity. By modernising and expanding its network across NGA, the company aims to enhance access to digital services, education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for millions of South Africans.
In addition to this investment, Vodacom has allocated more than R400 million for network development in its central region, including the Free State and Northern Cape. The company has also targeted network upgrades in the Addo region to combat truck hijackings and has plans to invest R620 million to improve connectivity in deep rural areas and townships in Mpumalanga.
Overall, Vodacom continues to prioritise infrastructure investments to enhance connectivity and support community development across South Africa.