Cell C admits network “taking strain”

In an effort to alleviate its strained network, Cell C says it will roll out an additional 100 sites in Johannesburg over the next three months at a cost of R200 million.

This is in addition to an existing 959 sites in Johannesburg, with the first 19 expected to be on air by the end of August.

Cell C subscribers have been vociferous in recent months, complaining about poor connectivity on the operator’s network.

Some of the areas earmarked for additional sites in Johannesburg include Sandton, Fourways, Bryanston, Morningside, Soweto and Benoni, amongst others.

Cell C, which recently announced a subscriber base of 11.7 million, said it will also build an additional 70 indoor coverage sites in Johannesburg and Pretoria.

“Traffic on our network has doubled over the past year and we’ve been hard at work rolling out new sites and installing additional capacity to cater for this growth and restore quality,” said Alan Knott-Craig, Cell C CEO.

“In particular, the network in Johannesburg and Pretoria has been taking strain. In addition to the new sites, we have also embarked on a project to optimise close to 900 existing sites in Johannesburg and Pretoria to improve coverage and minimise interference on the network in high-density areas. We expect these activities to be completed by the end of November 2013.”

Knott-Craig added that Cell C will continue to roll out new sites, upgrade and optimise existing sites and add additional capacity across its network nationally.

By the end of 2013, Cell C would have 4340 outdoor and indoor sites on air, it said.

The company said it is also in discussions with Vodacom to implement seamless handover.