South Africa-based telecoms provider Vodacom, has welcomed the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa’s (ICASA) recent announcement that it had approved Vodacom’s application for temporary spectrum in all of the 700, 800, 2300, 2600 and 3500 bands. In addition to the accelerated R500m ($26.5m) in network infrastructure investment Vodacom announced last week, the temporary assignment of spectrum will help alleviate network congestion during the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa.
The company said in recent weeks, mobile network traffic has increased by circa 40% as more people work from home and turn to online services for entertainment.
According tp Vodacom, the additional spectrum will be made available from the date which the temporary license is issued by ICASA and can be used until the earlier of either three months after the national disaster period has ended or November 30, 2020.
Shameel Joosub, CEO, Vodacom Group, said: “Vodacom remains focused on providing the highest quality network service to all of its customers during and beyond the COVID-19 lockdown period and we will continue to support the South African government’s efforts to flatten the curve in whatever way we can.
Joosub said the temporary spectrum which Vodacom has been assigned will go a long way towards alleviating network congestion in the coming weeks, and in the event that the lockdown period is extended further.
Demand for data has also risen following initiatives launched by Vodacom on April, 1 whereby 30-day data bundle prices were reduced by up to 40%, and the launch of ConnectU, Vodacom’s zero-rated platform that consolidates a range of essential services.
