Network operator rain commissions Africa’s first 5G network in South Africa
South African network operator rain is making 5G network available to its existing customers in certain parts of Johannesburg and Tshwane. The operator announced the activation of what is said to be Africa’s first commercial 5G network.
5G network according to rain will help South Africa benefit from reduced data costs and the coming Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“Selected customers in rain’s 5G coverage area have been invited to be the first to purchase ultra-fast 5G, unlimited internet for only R1000 per month. rain will deliver a state-of-the-art 5G router to a customer’s home. No installation is required, the router is simply plug-and-play and it will be connected immediately. The speed and capacity of the 5G network, together with the latest WiFi 6 technology in the router, will enable rain users to stream high-definition video to multiple devices simultaneously,” Khaya Dlanga, Chief Marketing Officer, rain said.
The network provider’s initial 5G offering will provide affordable, easy-to-install and fast wireless connectivity to businesses and homes as an alternative to ADSL, fixed-LTE and fibre. In the coming weeks, rain aims to open its new offering to all small businesses and homes within the coverage area of Johannesburg and Tshwane.
In February this year, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, rain and Nokia announced the launch of South Africa’s first commercial-ready 5G network in Cape Town, following the deployment of the first 5G site last November.
The 5G network opens the door for new applications and services that rely on ultra-high speeds and ultra-low latency, such as virtual reality, augmented reality and artificial intelligence for improved education, healthcare, entertainment, and more.
Over the course of 2020, rain will extend the coverage area to major South African metros.
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