South Africa, located at the southernmost tip of the African continent, spans diverse geography from desert, savannah, and vast grasslands to mountainous terrains and coastal regions. This geographical diversity impacts telecommunication and technology infrastructure, leading to a mixed state of maturity across these sectors. Urban areas, such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, have advanced technology and telecommunications, while rural and remote areas face challenges in access and connectivity. The population of approximately 60 million is unevenly distributed, with high density in urban areas and low density in rural areas. South Africa has a unique territory, Lesotho, completely enclosed within its borders, presenting additional infrastructure complexities. Innovative solutions are being implemented, such as Project Isizwe, aimed at providing free Wi-Fi in low-income communities. In the renewable energy sector, the country has made strides with the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), though the sector remains in a developing state.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 5 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Cell C is a telecommunications company operating in South Africa. Founded in 2001, it is one of the leading mobile providers in the country, offering a variety of services including voice, data and messaging services to its substantial customer base. The company was initially owned by 3C Telecommunications, which held a majority stake of 60%, and other stakeholders including CellSaf consortium (25%) and Lanun Securities SA (15%). Over the years, the ownership structure has evolved with various entities acquiring stakes in the company, reflecting the dynamic nature of the telecommunications...
Rain (Pty) Ltd is a South African mobile communications company, established in February 2018. The company provides voice, messaging, data and converged services, primarily focusing on data services. They operate their services using a combination of their own cell towers and leased infrastructure from other telecommunications companies such as Vodacom and MTN. In a significant expansion of their infrastructure, Rain announced in June 2020 the addition of 1500 5G standalone towers to be launched in 2021.
Telkom is a leading telecommunications company based in South Africa. Established in 1991, it was initially a government-run entity under the Department of Posts and Telecommunications. The company's ownership has seen significant changes over the years. It was partially privatised in 2003, with 30% of its shares sold to Thintana Communications, a consortium consisting of SBC Communications and Telekom Malaysia. However, by 2007, both SBC Communications and Telekom Malaysia had sold their shares, returning the majority ownership to the South African government. Today, the government, through...
