MTN South Africa Commits $9 Million to Expand Network Coverage in North West Province
MTN South Africa will invest more than 150 million rand ($9 million) in 2026 to expand and modernise its network infrastructure in the North West province. The investment will improve connectivity across more than 1,000 mobile sites and expand 4G and 5G coverage to additional communities. The project forms part. . .
MTN South Africa will invest more than 150 million rand ($9 million) in 2026 to expand and modernise its network infrastructure in the North West province. The investment will improve connectivity across more than 1,000 mobile sites and expand 4G and 5G coverage to additional communities. The project forms part of MTN Group’s broader network investment strategy, which included 9. 6 billion rand in capital expenditure during the first quarter of 2026. MTN South Africa announced plans on July 23, to invest more than 150 million rand ($9 million) in 2026 to upgrade and expand its telecommunications network in the North West province. The announcement followed a meeting between MTN South Africa’s executive committee, led by Deputy Chief Executive Officer Yolanda Cuba, and North West provincial authorities, including provincial Premier Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi. “In 2026, MTN will invest more than 150 million rand to modernise and expand network infrastructure across the North West province, improving connectivity across more than 1,000 mobile sites while extending 4G and 5G coverage to more communities,”the company said in a LinkedIn post. The investment represents part of MTN’s broader strategy to strengthen network quality, coverage and capacity across its markets. Investment Supports MTN’s South African Network ExpansionMTN’s latest commitment aligns with the group’s wider capital expenditure programme. The telecom operator allocated 9. 6 billion rand in capital expenditure during the first quarter of 2026 to improve network performance and expand infrastructure across Africa. MTN remains South Africa’s second-largest mobile operator behind Vodacom, which continues to lead the domestic market. However, MTN has gained ground against its main rival in recent years. A report from Opensignal published in April 2026 showed that Vodacom lost seven percentage points of market share since the beginning of 2024. MTN captured around two percentage points of those losses, while smaller competitors Telkom and Cell C secured most of the remaining gains. According to Opensignal, network quality rather than price competition drove these market shifts. The research firm found that MTN achieved stronger connection stability than competitors in several major economic centres, including Cape Town and Tshwane. The improved network performance has helped MTN strengthen its position against Vodacom. Local Investment Reflects Broader African Expansion StrategyThe North West province investment comes as MTN continues to announce major infrastructure projects across its African markets. In Ghana, which became MTN Group’s third-largest subsidiary in February 2026, the company announced more than $1. 1 billion in capital expenditure over three years. The Ghana investment plan includes the construction of 500 new network sites in 2026, compared with 50 sites completed in 2025. Meanwhile, MTN has increased investment in its largest market, Nigeria. The operator more than doubled its network capital expenditure in Nigeria in 2025, reaching 1 trillion naira ($730 million). The investment supported the recovery of the Nigerian subsidiary’s profitability. MTN also completed the acquisition of the remaining 75% stake it did not own in IHS Towers in February 2026 for $2. 2 billion. The transaction is expected to strengthen MTN’s ability to invest in passive infrastructure, including telecommunications towers, across multiple markets. Adoni Conrad Quenum