Vodacom has launched its live LTE trial network in Midrand, first in Africa. Vodacom has fully integrated its LTE network with its current 3G/HSDPA network and uses the same spectrum.

The trial LTE network has a theoretical downlink speed of 150 Mbps and a theoretical uplink speed of 100 Mbps.

Samsung LTE dongle was used for demonstartion. 70 Mbps downlink &  30 Mbps uplink data speed were achieved during demo according to mybroadband.co.za.

Vodacom has already shown interest in 2.6 GHz spectrum  licensees offered by Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA).

Vodacom is a African communications group providing mobile communications and related services to 39.6 million customers as at 31 March 2009. Its mobile network covers a total population of approximately 182 million people across five countries: South Africa, Tanzania, the DRC, Lesotho and Mozambique.