MTN Allocates R300 Million for Enhancement of Gauteng Telecommunications Infrastructure
MTN South Africa is investing a significant sum of R300 million to upgrade its network infrastructure in Gauteng, the country's most populated province. This investment forms part of a broader national R4.5 billion rollout aimed at improving mobile connectivity across South Africa.
Speaking about the investment, Machawe Dlamini, General Manager for Gauteng Operations at MTN SA, stated that the investment will strengthen digital capabilities through enhanced battery systems, site security, and energy infrastructure. The upgrades will enable MTN to extend high-speed connectivity to underserved parts of Gauteng, including densely populated townships and outlying peri-urban areas.
The timeline for this upgrade is ongoing through 2025, with visible network improvements expected within the year as part of MTN’s strategic digital infrastructure enhancement. The project targets closing connectivity gaps in both rural and urban areas, strengthening the network against power outages and weather disruptions, and supporting the introduction and expansion of 5G capabilities.
Impact on Rural and Urban Communities
Urban areas in Gauteng will benefit from enhanced network resilience and faster, more reliable connectivity, including 5G access, which boosts digital services and economic activity. Rural and peri-urban communities, traditionally underserved, will experience improved coverage and service quality, helping bridge the digital divide by providing access to modern mobile technologies and services.
This improvement supports inclusion initiatives like MTN MoMo's affordable smartphone offerings, further enabling access for lower-income users in both demographics.
Introduction of 5G Capabilities
MTN is expanding 5G coverage as part of the upgrade, continuing the trend of bringing advanced connectivity to more users. Gauteng, as South Africa’s economic hub, is a priority for 5G rollout, enabling higher speeds, low latency, and new digital services for businesses and consumers.
The upgrades are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. In addition to the R300 million investment in Gauteng, MTN has committed an additional R480 million (over $27 million) for network infrastructure upgrades in KwaZulu-Natal. The goal of these upgrades is to boost coverage and expand capacity, ensuring reliable, high-speed digital services for urban and rural communities.
Dlamini emphasized that investing in network infrastructure is vital to bridging the digital divide in South Africa. The MyBroadband Insights Network Quality Q2 2025 report recognized MTN South Africa as the country's best mobile network for Q1 2025. The improvements are part of broader efforts to harden the network against load shedding and service disruptions.
In summary, MTN’s R300 million Gauteng network upgrade during 2025 strengthens infrastructure, improves network resilience, expands 5G reach, and fosters digital inclusion in both rural and urban areas—contributing significantly to South Africa’s connectivity and economic development goals.
Digital inclusion in urban communities will be bolstered by the improved network resilience and the introduction of 5G access, enabling more seamless digital services and economic activities. Rural and peri-urban areas will also gain while bridging the digital divide, as the upgrade offers improved coverage, service quality, and access to modern mobile technologies, like MTN MoMo's affordable smartphone offerings, promoting the expansion of digital services and financially empowering lower-income users. Furthermore, the enhancement in data-and-cloud-computing technology and infrastructure investments in the industry, including finance, will facilitate the growth of businesses and consumer services in Gauteng and beyond, particularly with the implementation of 5G capabilities in this economic powerhouse.
