Vodacom has developed and tested a compact antenna system that allows for increasing the capacity of 4G and 5G networks at sites where there is no room for additional equipment. The company plans to implement this system in various parts of its network.
System Testing
This system was created in collaboration with Nokia and underwent pilot testing in the Western Cape. It combines traditional passive antennas and 'massive MIMO' (multiple input, multiple output) active radio receivers into a single unit. The Massive MIMO technology uses large arrays of antenna elements to direct signals to individual users, which increases the station's throughput.
According to a statement from Vodacom on Tuesday, this unit operates in Massive MIMO mode simultaneously on two frequency bands: 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz. Operators often face the problem of lack of space on existing towers and rooftops, while building new sites is time-consuming and costly.
Vodacom reported that the pilot project demonstrated the possibility of installing this technology where limited space or existing infrastructure would hinder standard upgrades. The company now intends to deploy this system at 'certain sites requiring additional capacity.'
The company did not specify how many sites will be covered, over what period, or what capacity increase was achieved during the pilot. Beverly Ngwenya, Technical Director of Vodacom South Africa, noted in a statement that as the demand for mobile data continues to grow, it is necessary to constantly improve the network to ensure the quality and stability of service expected by customers.
Vodacom emphasized that residents of densely populated urban areas, where space is limited and expanding the network using traditional methods is more difficult, will benefit most from this technology. In such areas, users experiencing high demand should notice more stable 4G and 5G network performance, including faster data loading and smoother streaming video playback.