MTN to Spend R1.5 Billion to Combat Load Shedding and Vandalism

MTN South Africa has announced a plan to invest R1.5-billion in 2023 to secure their network against load shedding and vandalism. The company is implementing various measures, including the installation of solar power, batteries, and generators, as well as enhancing security features at base stations. The company is also replacing copper cables with aluminium cables to prevent damage to their RF and DC cables.

Furthermore, MTN South Africa is hardening their sites with shelters for their batteries to ensure a high level network availability, even during long power outages. These efforts are aimed at improving network availability during load shedding, which is a common occurrence in South Africa and often leads to theft and vandalism. Michele Gamberini, the Chief Technology and Information Officer, and Charles Molapisi, the Chief Executive Officer, both spoke about the company’s commitment to network security and availability.

We are working to enrich our network and to implement all possible actions that can ensure a high level network availability, even during long power outages.

We are implementing several actions to make the life of thieves a little more difficult. We have hardened our sites, with shelters for our batteries. We are replacing copper cables with aluminium cables to avoid a lot of damage to our RF (radio frequency) and DC (direct current electricity) cables.

Michele Gamberini, Chief Technology and Information Officer, MTN South Africa

The investment will see us installing solar power, batteries and generators, and enhancing security features at base stations to ensure improved network availability during load shedding, when many instances of theft and vandalism occur.

Charles Molapisi, Chief Executive Officer, MTN South Africa