Vodacom has tested a compact antenna system designed to increase 4G and 5G network capacity at sites where there is limited space for additional equipment. Following the pilot, the South African operator plans to deploy the technology at selected sites across its network where additional capacity is required.
Developed in partnership with Nokia, the system combines conventional passive antennas with active Massive MIMO radios in a single unit. Massive MIMO uses multiple antenna elements to direct signals towards individual users, helping mobile sites handle higher volumes of network traffic.
Vodacom said the system was piloted in the Western Cape and can operate Massive MIMO across two spectrum bands simultaneously: 2.6GHz and 3.5GHz. This allows the operator to use the available spectrum more efficiently while expanding network capacity within existing infrastructure.
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The technology is aimed at addressing a common challenge for mobile operators, as existing towers and rooftops can have limited space for additional network equipment. Building new sites can also be time-consuming and costly, making compact solutions useful for locations where conventional network upgrades are difficult.
According to Vodacom, the pilot demonstrated that the system could be installed at sites where space constraints or existing infrastructure would otherwise make network expansion challenging. The company has therefore decided to move towards deployment at additional locations requiring greater capacity.
Vodacom said it will deploy the system at “identified sites where additional capacity is needed”, although it has not disclosed the number of sites involved, the deployment timeline or the specific capacity improvements recorded during the pilot.
“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 expects the technology to be particularly useful in densely populated urban areas, where limited space can make conventional network expansion more difficult. The compact antenna approach could allow operators to increase capacity without requiring significant additional physical infrastructure.
For customers in high-demand areas, Vodacom said the deployment is expected to support more consistent 4G and 5G performance, including faster downloads and smoother streaming as demand for mobile data continues to increase.
