INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Mobile Technology
Vodacom Limpopo switches on
base station sites in five villages
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T
he Vodacom Limpopo region has switched on 20 3G
enabled base station sites in deep rural areas across the
province. Six of the base station sites were deployed in
five villages that had zero network connectivity in Lebowakgomo
and Tubatse municipalities. These are the very first base station
sites to be deployed in these villages since the introduction of
mobile networks in South Africa, ushering in a new era of mobile
connectivity in the areas.
The new sites in Tubatse and Lebowakgomo municipalities are part
of Vodacom’s Rural Coverage Acceleration Programme, aimed at
expanding network coverage for people who live in deep rural areas
of South Africa to supplement the good work that Vodacom regions
have done in ramping up network infrastructure outside of urban
areas over many years.
Tsati Mthimunye, Executive Head of networks for Vodacom Limpopo,
said: “Vodacom’s long-term vision, is to have the widest and best
network accessible to all South Africans, irrespective of where they
live, started many years ago with substantial capital investments in
our infrastructure.
“To achieve this, it’s important that we invest in deep rural areas as
well as in the townships to make sure that nobody gets left behind,
especially since Africa and the rest of the world are on the cusp of
the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
The region’s capex for 2018/2019 financial year of R180 million
to maintain and upgrade the telco’s digital infrastructure, provides
customers, families, communities and businesses with the means to
connect, learn, share, trade and advance their ambitions. A total of
140 sites were deployed during this past financial year alone, with 60
of these rolled out in deep rural areas to ensure that people in rural
areas part of the Internet Age and reap the economic benefits.
travel long distances to do banking are doing this on their devices
from the comfort of their homes.
“There is a proven link between increased Internet access and
economic growth, so by providing connectivity in rural areas of
our country, we are playing a crucial role in driving South Africa’s
economy.” added Mthimunye. The World Bank study concludes that
a 10% point increase in fixed broadband penetration could increase
Gross Domestic Product growth by 1.21% in developed economies
and 1.38% in developing ones. Thus, the deployment of networks
in rural areas will help to enhance socio-economic development in
rural areas and access to the internet will help rural dwellers access
services such as eHealth, eEducation and eCommerce.
“As part of Vodacom’s accelerated rural coverage programme, we
deployed over 200 new rural network sites across all nine provinces in
the last financial year alone. This comes after we extended its South
African rural coverage by 101 villages in FY18, in areas which did not
previously have network access. The sites are located predominantly
in Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.
“We have taken serious steps in ensuring that people in rural areas
are connected and have access to fast data speed so that they
become part of the Internet revolution and take full advantage of its
positive impacts.”
“Nonetheless, we plan to do more to connect deep rural areas
through our Rural Coverage Acceleration Programme.” n
Vodacom’s commitment to accelerate network coverage for people who
live in deep rural areas has already yielded a positive societal impact.
Within months of Vodacom having deployed new 3G sites, most of
these communities are now part of the internet revolution underway.
As a result, children can now access the Internet for the first
time, whilst those who are actively looking for jobs are using their
smartphones to apply for jobs over the Internet. They have the
option of using Vodacom’s e-School and jobs portals that are both
zero-rated for Vodacom subscribers. Those who previously had to
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