South Africa 南非
7 operator(s) with LTE and 4 operator(s) with 5G NR on record for South Africa. A band listed here means the operator is recorded as using it — it does not mean nationwide coverage.
Operators & bands
| Operator | LTE bands (frequency · VoLTE · launch) | 5G NR bands (frequency · SA/NSA · launch) |
|---|---|---|
| Cell C | B1 (2100 MHz) — launched Sep 2015 B3 (1800 MHz) — launched Apr 2016 | — |
| MTN | B1 (2100 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Mar 2016 B8 (900 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched May 2018 | n1 (2100 MHz) — NSA; DSS n257 (28000 MHz) — NSA; launched Jun 2020 n28 (700 MHz) — NSA; launched Jun 2020 n3 (1800 MHz) — NSA; launched Jun 2020; DSS n78 (3500 MHz) — NSA; launched Jun 2020 |
| MTN (Afrihost) | B3 (1800 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Dec 2012; FWB | — |
| Neotel | B3 (1800 MHz) — launched Aug 2013; FWB | — |
| Rain | — | n41 (2500 MHz) — NSA; launched Sep 2019 |
| Rain Mobile | B3 (1800 MHz) — launched Apr 2023 B38 (2600 MHz) — launched Jun 2018 | — |
| Telkom | — | n78 (3500 MHz) — NSA; launched Nov 2022 |
| Telkom / 8ta | B3 (1800 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Jun 2016 B40 (2300 MHz) — launched Apr 2013 | — |
| Vodacom | B1 (2100 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Mar 2016 B3 (1800 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Oct 2012 B8 (900 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Mar 2016 B46 (5200 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Sep 2017 B255 (5800 MHz) — VoLTE: yes; launched Sep 2016 | n28 (700 MHz) — NSA; launched Dec 2020 n78 (3500 MHz) — NSA; launched Sep 2019 |
Band numbers link to their definitions. "VoLTE: yes" is shown only where the source records it; blank means not stated in the source. "SA" = standalone 5G, "NSA" = non-standalone (needs LTE).
2G / 3G shutdowns
| Operator | Network | Shutdown date | Status (as of 2026-11-08) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell C | 2G | 2027-12-31 | Scheduled |
| Vodacom South Africa | 2G | 2027-12-31 | Scheduled |
| Cell C | 3G | 2027-12-31 | Scheduled |
| Vodacom South Africa | 3G | 2027-12-31 | Scheduled |
Source: Onomondo 2G/3G Sunset. Operators sometimes delay shutdowns, sometimes with only a few months' notice — confirm with the operator.
eSIM options for South Africa
| Plan | Provider | Price | Data | Validity | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover 10GB | Airalo | USD 61 | 10 GB | 180 days | 2026-07-18 |
| Global 20GB | Ubigi | USD 44 | 20 GB | 30 days | 2026-10-22 |
Prices as of the check date shown; checkout price prevails. Full comparison, providers and the affiliate disclosure: eSIM comparison.
Will my phone work here?
Compare the bands above with the bands your phone supports. If your phone lacks a band an operator uses, you may get no signal — or no 5G — on that network. Also check whether your phone supports eSIM on the Devices page, and dial *#06# to see whether an EID (eSIM identifier) is shown.
Sources
- List of LTE networks (Wikipedia) — Country–operator LTE deployment table.
- List of 5G NR networks (Wikipedia) — Country–operator 5G deployment table, SA/NSA.
Checked 2026-11-08. Deployment data is adapted from Wikipedia lists (CC BY-SA 4.0); see Sources & updates for the full licence note.