Cell C Extends Roaming-Based Network Model Into South African 5G
Cell C has launched 5G in major South African cities by using MTN and Vodacom radio sites while providing its own core network for the service.
Cell C has switched on 5G service across major South African cities without building a new radio network of its own, DCD reported, extending the operator's roaming-based network model into faster mobile and fixed-wireless access.
Coverage is live in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Gqeberha on Cell C's public coverage map.
The commercial launch happened late last week with little of the launch-event publicity that often accompanies a new mobile generation.
Roaming Agreements Carry The Radio Layer
Cell C reaches radio sites through MTN and Vodacom roaming arrangements instead of operating a physical radio access network itself.
The 5G service follows a 2023 network migration in which the company deactivated its physical tower and RAN estate and shifted prepaid users and MVNO traffic onto an MTN-enabled virtualized RAN.
That structure lets Cell C sell 5G while relying on partner radio sites.
The operator still provides the core network for the 5G service, so the launch is not simply a resale of another carrier's retail product.
Chief executive Jorge Mendes told Tech Central that Cell C has access to Vodacom's 5G sites and MTN's 5G sites on both the 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz spectrum bands.
His comments framed the coverage claim around roaming reach rather than Cell C-owned towers.
Financial Results Arrive With The Launch
The 5G launch landed alongside Cell C's latest annual figures.
For the full year 2026, total group revenue reached ZAR 12.64 billion, or US$789 million, up 14 percent year on year, while service revenue rose 6 percent to ZAR 11.64 billion, or US$726 million.
The customer base also grew.
Cell C added 1.3 million subscribers during the year, a 19 percent increase, bringing its own customer count to 8.884 million before including 5.713 million MVNO subscribers using the network.
Mendes said any customer with a 5G handset in a covered area is already receiving 5G service.
He also played down a large consumer jump from 4G, while pointing to fixed wireless access as one of the use cases the new layer can support.
