Without an official launch event or marketing campaign, Cell C has quietly activated its 5G network across South Africa. CEO Jorge Mendes confirmed the rollout during an interview with TechCentral, explaining that any Cell C customer equipped with a 5G-capable handset in a coverage area is already utilizing the service. The switch-on was notably omitted from the operator’s maiden full-year financial results, reflecting a deliberate strategy to delay public promotion until distinct commercial offerings are finalized.
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Because Cell C operates on an asset-light model rather than maintaining its own physical radio infrastructure, the company leverages roaming agreements with both Vodacom and MTN across the 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz spectrum bands. Consequently, Mendes claims Cell C currently provides the widest 5G coverage footprint in South Africa, accessing roughly 28,000 roamed sites compared to the 5,500 towers the carrier once owned.
Enabling dual access required host operators to release capital expenditure, while Cell C upgraded its core network. Unlike competitors who heavily marketed 5G coverage as a standalone product, Cell C is holding back a formal marketing push. Mendes noted that baseline 5G connectivity does not radically transform basic consumer tasks like video streaming over 4G, emphasizing that the operator intends to launch when it can offer unique value propositions, particularly surrounding fixed-wireless access (FWA).
Cell C is also pursuing broader ecosystem partnerships, engaging in preliminary discussions with satellite providers Starlink and Amazon as potential coverage partners and retail resale channels. Additionally, Mendes characterized Comsol’s recent national 5G broadband launch as validation of Cell C’s wholesale-centric strategy.
Parallel to the 5G switch-on, Cell C is migrating its customer base to Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) technology to improve voice call quality. Roughly one million subscribers have transitioned to date, with an additional three million set to migrate in the coming months.
The low-key 5G deployment highlights Cell C’s restructured, infrastructure-light approach. Capital expenditure for the financial year totalled R810 million, with guidance set between R750 million and R850 million for FY2027, representing a fraction of the capital deployed by traditional network builders. By renting infrastructure and prioritizing wholesale services, Cell C aims to deliver expansive network availability while maintaining strict capital discipline.
