Load shedding: Mobile operators using 900 generators to improve coverage
South African mobile networks have had to fork out billions to ensure their coverage is not affected by load shedding.
MTN South Africa said on Wednesday that its network availability had improved by 15% as a result of ongoing investment to ensure its mobile network operates effectively during load shedding.
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As Eskom’s power grid crumbles, leaving Africa’s most advanced economy in the dark for up to 10 hours a day, mobile operators including MTN, Vodacom and majority state-owned Telkom are scrambling to ensure their networks stay up and running.
“It’s an ongoing battle, but one that we’re committed to winning as we fight to provide our customers with a reliable and resilient network,” MTN South Africa Chief Executive Charles Molapisi said.
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In response to the power crisis, MTN has committed to investing between 4.5 billion rand and 5 billion rand into its network to ensure uninterrupted customer connectivity.
The company says it has already deployed over 20,000 batteries, 5,000 rectifiers and nearly 900 diesel generators to various locations across the country in its bid to keep South Africans connected.
LOAD SHEDDING COMPOUNDED BY VANDALISM
So far more than 5,000 network sites have been upgraded with either batteries, rectifier swaps, backup generators and increased security to protect them from theft and vandalism.
“While there was a brief respite in the second quarter of 2023 with a reduction in load shedding compared to the first quarter, power outages continued to pose a significant challenge to our operations,” Molapisi added.
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According to MTN, theft and vandalism at network sites remain a concern, especially when criminals exploit the darkness during outages to target sites.