Vodacom has tested a compact antenna system that lets it add 4G and 5G capacity at sites with no room for more equipment, and plans to roll it out across parts of its network.

The system, developed with Nokia and piloted in the Western Cape, combines conventional passive antennas and active “massive Mimo” (multiple-input, multiple-output) radios in a single unit. Massive Mimo uses large arrays of antenna elements to steer signals towards individual users, increasing how much traffic a site can carry.

The unit runs massive Mimo on two spectrum bands at once, 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz, Vodacom said in a statement on Tuesday.

Operators often run out of room on existing towers and rooftops, and building new sites is slow and expensive. Vodacom said the pilot showed the technology could be installed where limited space or existing infrastructure would make a conventional upgrade difficult.

The company said it would now deploy the system at “identified sites where additional capacity is needed”. It did not say how many sites that covers, over what period, or what capacity gains the pilot delivered.

“As demand for mobile data continues to grow, we need to continuously evolve our network to deliver the quality and consistency of experience our customers expect,” said Beverly Ngwenya, technology director at Vodacom South Africa, in the statement.

Vodacom said the benefits would be greatest in dense urban areas, where space is tight and conventional network expansion is more complex. Customers in high-demand areas should see more consistent 4G and 5G performance, including faster downloads and smoother streaming, it said. – © 2026 NewsCentral Media