It's Official - Vodacom is SA's Most Reliable Network

South Africa, 7 July 2023. It's official - Vodacom is South Africa's 'Most Reliable Network'. The latest biannual network report by the independent benchmarking organisation umlaut, part of Accenture, has ranked Vodacom 'Best in Test' ahead of competitors and scored the highest for reliability, data services and crowdsourced quality. This is testament to Vodacom's commitment to deliver unparalleled connectivity to its valued customers and reaffirms its purpose of connecting South Africans to a better future.

Sitho Mdlalose, CEO of Vodacom South Africa, expressed his pride in achieving this remarkable milestone, stating: "We are honoured to be acknowledged as South Africa's most reliable network. This achievement reflects the tireless efforts of our dedicated teams and the substantial investments we have made over the years to enhance our network infrastructure and provide even greater value to our customers."

Earlier this year, Vodacom made a pledge at the South Africa Investment Conference to spend R60-billion in capital investment in the country over the next five years, having successfully delivered on its promise to invest R50-billion over five years in 2018. This has and will contribute to enhancing network resilience in South Africa to keep customers connected, even during loadshedding, rolling out 4G and 5G coverage to more parts of the country and meeting the demand for affordable connectivity.

"At Vodacom, we understand that in today's digital age, seamless mobile connectivity is extremely important to our customers, wherever they may be. In their everyday lives, whether it is at work, at home or on the road, customers can count on us for reliable, quality network services, reinforcing our ambition to deliver exceptional services that empower customers and drive economic growth across the nation," adds Mdlalose.

The umlaut report reveals that Vodacom South Africa had the highest overall reliability score, with 401 out of 493 points. This means customers receive the Most Reliable Network connection for voice and data services and consistent user experience in the country.

In key performance indicators from crowdsourced samples, Vodacom was ahead of the competition in broadband coverage, including coverage reach and quality. It also outperformed in basic internet download speeds and latency - the time it takes to get a response to information sent - for both OTT voice and gaming services. In addition, the crowdsourced samples gave Vodacom the highest score for high-definition voice services.

"Over the past few years, we have made significant investments into upgrading and expanding our mobile network to ensure an enhanced customer experience now and in the future. This includes being the first network to switch on 5G in South Africa while broadening coverage, increasing speeds, improving network quality while at the same time addressing the cost of communicating. In doing so, we want to enable more citizens access to the benefits of connectivity and help bridge the digital divide," says Mdlalose.

This accolade reaffirms Vodacom's commitment to using technology for the good of the people, planet and possibilities by delivering high-quality connectivity that its customers can rely on.

For more information, refer to Benchmarking South Africa | umlaut report here: https://www.umlaut.com/benchmarking/south-africa