5G adoption accelerates in South Africa as coverage and affordability improve

By the end of the year 2024, more than half of South Africa’s population lived in areas where they could connect to a 5G network

The report forecasts even more dramatic growth by 2029, predicting 42 million 5G subscribers and 73% population coverage. Image/ Afcacia

The South African 5G market has entered “a dynamic growth phase,” with major telecommunications operators, including MTN and Vodacom, spearheading the rapid expansion of 5G coverage across the country.

By the end of 2024, over 50% of the population had access to 5G networks, according to a report by ICT market research firm Africa Analysis. This milestone signals a transformative period for the sector, with further network expansions projected over the next five years.

Africa Analysis’ 2025 SA 5G Report reveals that South Africa reached 10.8 million 5G subscribers by December 2024, a figure combining mobile users and fixed wireless access (FWA) customers. Andre Wills, director at Africa Analysis, attributed this surge to the declining cost of 5G-enabled devices and aggressive infrastructure rollouts by telecom giants. “This represents a substantial increase in adoption, driven primarily by the increasing affordability of 5G-enabled handsets and expanding network coverage,” Wills said.

The report forecasts even more dramatic growth by 2029, predicting 42 million 5G subscribers and 73% population coverage. “The substantial growth observed underscores the industry’s resilience and potential for further expansion. With increasing investment and emerging technologies, the 5G ecosystem is poised for even greater transformation,” Wills added.

In 2024, total revenue from 5G services hit R28.4 billion ($1.5 billion), with mobile services accounting for 76% and FWA contributing 24%. Vodacom emerged as the dominant mobile network operator in both subscribers and revenue, while Telkom led the FWA segment. Meanwhile, Comsol carved a niche in private 5G networks, a sector Wills described as “still in its early stages of development.”

Africa Analysis anticipates groundbreaking advancements such as 5.5G (5G Advanced) and direct-to-consumer (DTC) satellite connectivity to reshape the landscape. Deployments of 5.5G for private networks are expected from 2026, with satellite-based voice and text services likely by 2027.  “The introduction of these advancements will further drive connectivity, industry transformation, and the overall digital economy,” Wills noted.

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