Beyond the Map: We Tested Telkom’s 5G Expansion on the Ground

The maps show growing patches of 5G coverage across Gauteng, Cape Town, and Durban, but what’s the real-world experience like? To find out, we took a drive near one of the first sites Telkom ever upgradedits own headquarters in Highveld, Centurionto put its expanding network to a practical speed test.

Telkom’s approach to 5G has been strategic rather than rushed. The operator has explained that its core goal is to relieve congestion on its 4G network where demand is high. “We actively monitor our 4G sites, and where conditions are met… we prioritise 5G rollout to improve the customer experience,” a spokesperson noted. The company also candidly admits that the adoption of 5G-enabled devices remains a key factor for wider rollout.

The Test: Real Devices, Real Driving

Armed with a test bench of Samsung Galaxy S24 devicesset to connect automatically to the best available technologywe performed a series of speed tests while driving around the Centurion area. This wasn’t a lab condition peak-speed chase; it was a simulation of how a user might experience the network during everyday movement.

The Promise of a More Accessible 5G

The timing of this expansion is notable. In 2024, Telkom quietly reduced prices across its 5G product line, making the faster technology more accessible to consumers. This move, coupled with its congestion-focused deployment, suggests a push to onboard more users without degrading the service quality for its existing 4G customer base.

The big question for any network expansion isn’t just about coverage, but about sustained performance. Can the network handle the promise of high speeds as more users connect? Our tests in Centurion aimed to catch a glimpse of that reality at a foundational site.

The detailed speed results and analysis from our drive are forthcoming, but the exercise itself highlights a critical phase for Telkom. The 5G foundation is laid in key urban hubs; the next challenge is proving that the network can deliver consistently high speeds as it invites more South Africans to connect. For consumers, the expanding coverage and lower prices are promising signs, but the true test will always be the speed you get on your screen, not the shade on a coverage map.

{Source: Mybroadband}

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