Telkom SA SOC Limited, a prominent telecommunications provider in South Africa, was founded in 1991. Initially, the company operated as the Department of Posts and Telegraphs since 1910. Telkom is headquartered in Centurion, Gauteng, South Africa, and serves 38 countries across the African continent. It is a publicly traded company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE: TKG) and is majority state-owned, with the South African government holding 40.5% and the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) owning 14.8%. Over the past three decades, Telkom has transitioned from a fixed-line telecommunications provider to a comprehensive ICT provider, offering a range of fixed, mobile, and IT products.
Country
South Africa
Type
Mobile Network Operator
Telkom logo

3G Network

Telkom launched its 3G network in October 2010 as part of its unified 2G/3G network infrastructure, providing voice and data services. The company utilised a single UMTS band for its 3G services. Over time, Telkom expanded its 3G network coverage to serve a significant portion of the South African population, including upgrades to HSPA+ in June 2011. However, in line with the South African government's roadmap to phase out older network technologies, Telkom, along with other telecom operators, planned to shut down its 3G network by March 2025. This initiative aimed to free up frequencies for the expansion of 4G and 5G networks.

Network Frequency Band Status
B1 (2100 MHz)
Active
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 3G Network
Launch

4G Network

Telkom's 4G network was launched on the 2300 MHz frequency band in April 2013, offering speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s. The company strategically expanded its 4G services to enhance mobile broadband coverage across South Africa. In March 2022, Telkom participated in South Africa's first-ever high-demand spectrum auction, securing 20 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz frequency band. Despite initial interference issues in the sub-1GHz bands, Telkom deployed the acquired spectrum in areas unaffected by television services interference. As of October 2022, Telkom had over 20.4 million mobile subscribers, reflecting a growth of 11.9% from the previous year.

4G Frequency Bands
Network Frequency Band Max. Channel Bandwidth Status Known EARFCNs
B1 (2100 MHz)
Active
476
B3 (1800 MHz)
10
Active
1511
B8 (900 MHz)
Active
3600
B20 (800 MHz)
10
Active
6300
B40 (2300 MHz)
20
Active
38750
Date Event Subtype

5G Network

Telkom commenced testing its 5G network in February 2021, utilising closed-access sites in selected parts of South Africa. By October 2022, Telkom had commercially launched its 5G network, with plans to introduce fixed wireless access services. The company deployed 5G sites in various locations, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein, and Port Elizabeth. Telkom utilised the valuable 3,500 MHz spectrum, ideal for 5G, to optimise its network performance. By August 2022, Telkom had 123 active 5G sites, double the number initially planned. The company continued to expand its fibre backhaul to support the 5G network, aiming to launch the most 5G-ready network in the country.

Network Frequency Band Max. Channel Bandwidth Status
n78 (3500 MHz)
40
Active
Date Event Subtype
Launch of 5G Network
Launch