Gigzone: Mtn Launches Uncapped Wireless Internet For R5/day

Dubbed MTN GigZone and currently in a pilot phase, the service offers 5Mbit/s internet speeds for R5 valid for 24 hours to MTN's prepaid customers at selected community locations in Gauteng and the Western Cape.

"MTN South Africa has launched MTN GigZone to address the critical need for affordable, reliable internet access in township communities, where cost remains a major barrier to connectivity," MTN South Africa said in a response to a query by TechCentral.

MTN's pilot in the low-cost internet space faces stiff competition from fibre-based networks using innovative technologies to offer similar products in South African townships.

Wire-Wire Networks has deployed fibre to 15 800 homes in Thembisa previously Tembisa, a sprawling township in central Gauteng. CEO JP Schmidtke said Wire-Wire Networks - like other industry players such as Vumatel, Fibertime and Frogfoot - believes townships present the next big expansion opportunity for fibre network operators.

"Our goal is to give you unlimited, 20Mbit/s internet for less than R100/month. You can do it with Wi-Fi but then if everybody starts streaming, the quality goes down. So, we've set ourselves a goal to put fibre right into the final person's dwelling," Maziv chairman Pieter Uys told TechCentral at the project's launch in September 2023.