For the launch, Rain has partnered with Chinese telecoms gear maker Huawei.

Notably, the launch of Rain’s 5G network is also the first commercial 5G SA network in Africa.

Rain Chief Marketing Officer Khaya Dlanga told the media, “Standalone 5G will further improve 5G network performance with increased uplink rate, lower latency, and improved reliability, ushering in high-end cloud VR and cloud gaming services, more diversified enterprise and home broadband services.”

“Standalone 5G will demonstrate how 5G is powerful in realising South Africa’s 4IR future. Powered by Huawei’s global leading 5G solutions, our Standalone 5G will enable the industry’s digital transformation in the future, such as smart healthcare, smart ports, smart mining and smart manufacturing in South Africa.”

“We will work with the trustworthy strategic partner to further expand our 5G networks and bring the best service and experience to our customers,” Dlanga added.

According to some analysts, Rain’s competitive pricing on 5G will pose a challenge for bigger telco’s operating in South Africa such as MTN and Vodacom.

Rain activated Africa’s first commercial 5G network in Johannesburg and Pretoria last year. Earlier this year, Vodacom launched its 5G mobile network in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town.

Last month, MTN too launched its 5G network in Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.

MTN deployed 5G in 2.1GHz using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing, 3.5GHz, and 28GHz bands.

MTN has also partnered with Huawei for the launch of its 5G network.

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As MTN celebrates its 25th anniversary, the company in a statement said that it has reached 95 percent 4G coverage across South Africa – giving almost all of South Africa access to new and disruptive online services through a global, high-performing network.

The company also revealed that it has broad 3G coverage in rural South Africa.

Over the years MTN has worked extensively to improve its connectivity reach, especially its 4G coverage in South Africa. In the last four years, the telco has invested around R40 billion to improve its network coverage and quality. It has adopted a new pricing method to stay competitive in the fast-growing telecom market.

MTN South Africa’s microwave link network serves more than 70 percent of the businesses in the country. Its fibre network spans over 18, 000 kilometres and has the capacity to serve almost 30 percent of the businesses in South Africa.

MTN South Africa CEO Godfrey Motsa told the media that, “Our network modernisation programme has come at the perfect time. It will enable clients to extend their computer networks over large distances and to connect remote branch offices to data centres and each other and to deliver the applications and services required to boost functionality.”

He added, “Our network is future-ready as we look forward to the next 25 years as South Africa’s best and most trusted network. We plan to roll out new digital business models to make sure value creation is shared and the benefits of the digital economy truly uplift and benefit many more lives.”

Last month, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa fined MTN R5 million over an alleged corporate non-compliance. In 2015, MTN was fined in Nigeria for a similar offence.

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