MTN Commits $17 Million to Boost Gauteng Network, Expands 5G to Underserved Areas

MTN South Africa is investing R300 million (about $17 million) into upgrading its network infrastructure across Gauteng, a province home to a significant portion of the country’s population and economy. 

This initiative forms part of a larger R4.5 billion ($251 million) national rollout expected to wrap up in 2025.

The company is adding more base stations and expanding its digital backbone; over 70 sites will see capacity enhancements, modernisation, and energy upgrades. MTN is also rolling out 5G access and enhancing existing LTE services, aiming to close the digital gap that still separates many urban and rural communities.

“The R300 million investment, part of the national rollout to enhance the company’s digital capabilities, will lead to improvements in battery, site security, and energy facilities, including the availability of generators across the province,” said Machawe Dlamini, general manager for Gauteng Operations at MTN SA. 

According to him, this development also includes network strengthening strategies designed to keep services running during load shedding and other disruptions.

While Gauteng leads this upgrade drive, MTN hasn’t ignored other provinces. R480 million ($27 million) has been earmarked for similar upgrades in KwaZulu-Natal, where the focus includes building new sites and expanding rural access to 4G and 5G services.

MTN South Africa was recently named the country’s top-performing mobile network for Q1 2025, based on MyBroadband Insights’ latest report. The telco aims to hold that title, not just through marketing but by physically expanding its network capacity.

Gauteng, contributing roughly 34% to South Africa’s GDP, is a logical priority. For MTN, upgrading infrastructure here isn’t just a business decision; it’s strategic positioning.

“Our investment in the network infrastructure is a crucial facilitator in connecting the unconnected and fostering a more inclusive digital landscape across South Africa,” Dlamini.

Nationally, MTN has already invested over R9.7 billion ($548 million) in network and IT infrastructure upgrades in the past year. With nearly 39.7 million mobile users as of June 2025, the company remains South Africa’s second-largest operator, trailing Vodacom but staying ahead of Telkom, Cell C, and Rain.

For communities long underserved, especially those in the province’s peri-urban and township areas, this infrastructure expansion could mean the difference between digital exclusion and connectivity that genuinely transforms daily life.