SA to increase 5G operations – and it’ll put self-driving cars on the road

Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has gazetted the terms and conditions of South Africa’s progress towards a 5G mobile network. In the proposals submitted to the government, the document paves the way for the roll-out of the high-speed technology – and even champions the use of self-driving cars.

In April, Icasa awarded temporary spectrum to MTN, Vodacom and Telkom for 5G services, which now have limited availability in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town. This is set to shift to a permanent gig this year, as South Africa increases its spectrum and allows for ‘ultra-high-speed technology’.

What will 5G bring to SA? Self-driving cars, apparently…

However, the wording in the proposals puts a specific emphasis on what type of developments we can expect from 5G. Of course, it will make our online browsing quicker, but the minister is also focused on what it means for autonomous technology. According to Ndabeni-Abrahams, self-driving cars will soon get the go-ahead:

“High speed, high-quality networks are required for advanced connected devices and services, while ensuring that rural areas do not lag behind. The emergence of 5G networks will enable autonomous vehicles / self-driving cars on our roads, as well as various other disruptive technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams

“Large scale deployment is necessary”

The gazetted reforms also make provisions for the government to build 5G masts across the country – and it may spill onto private land. Ndabeni-Abrahams states that these towers will require ‘rights of way’ access – meaning that the ministry will erect the structures as and where they see fit:

“Rights of way will become increasingly important to deploy massive numbers of small cells for 5G and backhaul to connect the cells. Large scale deployment of fibre is necessary for backhaul and the increasing demands of wireless networks.”

“Significant effort must be made by all spheres of government to enable the rapid deployment of electronic communications networks and facilities since these networks are critical enablers for our advancement as a country.”

Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams