South Africa's 5G Landscape: A Tale of Speed and Limited Reach
South Africa has made significant strides in deploying 5G technology, but the user experience tells a different story. Recent research highlights that despite being an early adopter, 5G is not yet the dominant network for most users. In the first quarter of 2026, only 11.1% of connected time was spent on 5G, with the majority (86.1%) still relying on 4G networks.
This data comes from Opensignal, which analyzed the behavior of users with 5G-capable smartphones. The findings indicate that while 5G offers faster speeds—averaging 196.4Mbps for downloads compared to 39.4Mbps on 4G—it is not widely utilized. For all users, 5G accounted for just 3.7% of connected time, highlighting a gap between deployment and adoption.
Key Findings from the Research
- Speed Advantages: 5G provides significantly faster download and upload speeds compared to 4G.
- Network Reach vs. Adoption: The main challenge lies in network reach rather than user adoption.
- User Behavior: Despite having 5G devices, users spend nearly eight times more time on 4G than on 5G.
The analysis also reveals that the issue is not about the performance of 5G itself but about how often users can access it. When they do connect, the benefits are clear, but the frequency of connection remains low.
Historical Context and Market Trends
Rain, a mobile data-only network operator, was the first to launch a commercial 5G network in September 2019. MTN, Telkom, and Vodacom followed suit in 2020, rolling out 5G during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was facilitated by temporary spectrum allocations from the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to ease congestion and maintain broadband quality.
Research firm Africa Analysis reported that the South African 5G market is entering a dynamic growth phase, with major operators like MTN and Vodacom leading the expansion. As of December 2024, over 50% of the population had access to 5G networks, with forecasts predicting 60% coverage by December 2025.
Spectrum Allocation and Network Performance
According to ICASA, 5G population coverage reached 58% in 2025, up from 46.6% in 2024. However, the rollout has been concentrated in urban areas. Despite this, users with 5G devices spent nearly eight times more connected time on 4G than on 5G in Q1 2026.
A key factor in this disparity is the use of mid-band frequencies for 5G. Low-band frequencies (700MHz and 800MHz) remain primarily on LTE, while mid-band (2.6GHz and 3.5GHz) carries most 5G traffic. In Q1 2026, 3.5GHz usage was entirely 5G, while 2.6GHz acted as a transition band, with 23% on 5G and 77% on 4G.
Lessons from Other Countries
Comparing South Africa’s 5G performance to other BRICS nations, such as India, highlights the importance of spectrum strategy. India uses both low-band and mid-band spectrum, achieving 34.6% 5G connectivity time in Q1 2026, compared to South Africa’s 3.7%. Opensignal notes that the difference lies in operator deployment decisions rather than spectrum availability or device penetration.
The Path Forward
While the technology works, the challenge remains in making it accessible to more users. South Africa has built a 5G capacity layer, but without extending low-band coverage to 5G, the everyday mobile experience will continue to rely on 4G. The stronger network is already in place, but it needs to be activated for a broader audience.
Conclusion
South Africa’s 5G story is one of potential and progress, but also of challenges. The country has the infrastructure and technology to support widespread 5G adoption, but the key lies in expanding coverage and ensuring consistent access. As the market continues to grow, addressing these gaps will be crucial in transforming the mobile experience for all users.
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