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Cell C's 42Mbps incoming

By Leigh-Ann Francis
Johannesburg, 11 Mar 2011

Third mobile operator Cell C will continue to invest in its R5 billion network, as it prepares to upgrade the speed of its new HSPA+ network from 21Mbps to 42Mbps, before the end of May.

Cell C first unveiled its new network in Port Elizabeth (PE) in September last year as part of a phased rollout. The company confirmed this morning that it is on track to begin its upgrade to 42Mbps, starting in PE by latest end of May.

“As announced at the launch of our network in PE last year, we made a commitment to upgrade PE to 42Mbps within seven to eight months and that is what we are doing,” stated a company spokesperson this morning.

Details regarding the availability of technology compatible devices and the cost thereof will be revealed closer to launch.

It is expected that the company will follow a similar phased rollout for the capacity upgrade as it did last year.

This included a nationwide rollout in Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Cape Town, George, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Richards Bay, Witbank, Pretoria and Johannesburg.

Improved access to Cell C's network is also expected by mid-year. The operator met its target of 34% nationwide coverage at the beginning of the year and is now working towards 67% population coverage by mid-2011 and 97% coverage across the country by the end of 2011.

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