Vodacom Congo has begun testing 5G technology but is focusing on expanding 4G network coverage and its mobile money services, ITWeb Africa writes, citing CEO Khalil Al Americani.
The official was quoted as saying that Vodacom is testing 5G under the supervision of the regulator, adding that the licensing criteria for a commercial rollout had yet not been made clear, however. Once introduced, the operator expects 5G use cases to be directed primarily towards the enterprise segment, as well as some applications for the government and IoT services.
The company’s focus remains on 4G expansion for now, though: ‘There’s still a long way to go before we start rolling out 5G. It will necessitate a much denser mesh network of sites, because we’re using higher frequencies. As a result, major deployments and corresponding capex will be required’.
The deployment of mobile sites remains challenging, though, with Vodacom noting that the majority of its base stations are dependent on diesel generators for power, describing thefts of equipment for alternative energy solutions – such as solar power and lithium batteries – as a significant setback to its rollout programme. Smartphone penetration remains another potential barrier to 4G/5G growth, with Vodacom noting that smartphone penetration in its user base stood at between 30% and 35%, although the rate was around 50% in Kinshasa.
Source: https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2023/11/06/vodacom-congo-testing-5g-but-focus-remains-on-4g/