by NJABULO BUTHELEZI
DURBAN – MTN South Africa is investing R480 million (US$27,1 million) on infrastructure to drive economic growth and digital inclusion in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province.
As part of its investment, MTN will expand and modernise its network, with a strong focus on improving access in under-served areas.
The project includes, Construction of 25 new sites, Modernisation of 90 existing sites, Capacity upgrades to 120 sites and transmission upgrades to more than 80 sites.
This investment aims to extend and add more capacity and speed to MTN’s 4G coverage, which currently sits at 97 percent in the province.
Rural communities and townships will be the primary beneficiaries of the 4G expansion, while metros and larger towns will gain broader access to MTN’s 5G network.
Busi Dlamini, MTN General Manager for KZN, said the province was a key growth area for MTN.
“This investment is a demonstration of our unwavering commitment to bridging the digital divide. We are ensuring that no one is left behind in South Africa’s digital revolution,” said Dlamini.
The announcement was made at the MTN Digital Skills for Digital Jobs (DS4DJ) induction ceremony, held at the Durban International Convention Centre.
Hosted by the Premier, Thami Ntuli, the event marked major infrastructure upgrades and the formal induction of 80 young KZN residents into MTN’s national digital skills development programme.
The national programme will benefit 700 young people across all nine provinces.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between MTN, the EBL Institute of Business and Technology, Moses Kotane Research Institute, Durban University of Technology InnoBiz, and the Office of the Premier of KZN.
– CAJ News
