Vodacom will spend more than ZAR500 million (US$30 million) on network infrastructure in South Africa's Western Cape province during the current financial year, with the bulk earmarked for radio access modernisation and 5G expansion.

Where is the money going?

Around ZAR380 million of the envelope will fund a RAN refresh, with Vodacom planning to upgrade or replace more than 50 sites using next-generation hardware, software and architecture. The operator said the work will lift capacity, support 5G services and cut energy consumption at cell sites.

A further 50-plus sites will receive 4G capacity upgrades on 700 MHz spectrum. Vodacom framed the low-band rollout as a coverage play: 700 MHz travels further and penetrates buildings better than higher bands, addressing both urban density and underserved pockets on the Cape Flats.

The 5G push reaches towns including Khayelitsha, Delft, Gugulethu, Langa, Mitchells Plain and Philippi — six of the province's highest-demand townships.

Why the energy spend matters

A portion of the budget is dedicated to resilience. South Africa's Western Cape has faced repeated outages from load reduction, cable theft, municipal grid failures and routine maintenance. Vodacom plans to deploy additional static generators and modernise battery systems at existing sites to keep traffic on air during those events.

What's driving the capex?

Vodacom Western Cape managing executive Waldi Wepener framed the investment in terms of access. "This investment will improve the quality, reliability and reach of our network while supporting wider access to digital services," Wepener said. He added that mobile data consumption across the province had climbed by more than 40% year-on-year, a figure that explains the urgency behind the capacity push.

How is Vodacom tackling affordability?

The operator is coupling the radio upgrade with personalised tariffs under its Just4You and Just4YourTown plans, alongside the Easy2Own financing scheme designed to move customers off 2G and 3G handsets onto 4G and 5G smartphones. Its V-Hub platform continues to offer free business tools and digital advisory content to small and medium enterprises.

• RAN modernisation: ~ZAR380m, 50+ sites upgraded or replaced
• 4G capacity: 50+ additional sites on 700 MHz
• 5G expansion: new sites in Khayelitsha, Delft, Gugulethu, Langa, Mitchells Plain, Philippi
• Energy resilience: static generators and battery upgrades at existing sites
• Demand signal: provincial data traffic up 40%+ year-on-year

What comes next?

Vodacom has not published a completion date for the Western Cape programme, but the rollout forms part of the operator's broader South African capex cycle for the financial year and lines up with the country's ongoing temporary spectrum assignments from ICASA that have supported 5G traffic growth. Expect site-level commissioning announcements to follow as the swap-out and 700 MHz refarm progress through the province.

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Filed for Telecom Gazette — Vodacom Western Cape investment briefing.