MTN Group’s South African subsidiary has announced a substantial investment in its network infrastructure to combat the persistent power crisis in the country.
The mobile operator has revealed that it enhanced its network availability by 15% through the deployment of over 20,000 batteries, 5,000 rectifiers, and nearly 900 diesel generators at its sites nationwide.
South Africa’s power cuts
The frequent and prolonged power cuts in South Africa have disrupted daily life, businesses, and mobile network operations, which rely on electricity for connectivity.
Competing with Vodacom and Telkom, MTN has struggled to maintain its network amidst these unpredictable outages.
Charles Molapisi, CEO of MTN South Africa, expressed the company’s commitment to overcoming the power crisis and providing customers with a reliable network.
MTN has invested between R4.5 billion ($233 million) and R5 billion in its network to ensure its mobile services remain effective during the worst recorded power cuts.
Molapisi noted that the company has upgraded over 5,000 network sites, incorporating batteries, rectifier swaps, backup generators, and increased security measures to protect against theft and vandalism. In August alone, they upgraded 2,000 sites.
MTN’s extensive experience in Nigeria, where power outages are a common challenge, has informed its approach to managing unstable power grids.
In Nigeria, MTN has effectively employed diesel generators, ensuring network reliability even during power instability.
This strategy has not only allowed consistent network services but has also provided valuable insights for the company’s operations.