As operators around the world continue investing heavily in next-generation infrastructure, the focus is increasingly shifting from simply deploying new technology to building networks capable of supporting future digital services.

For operators such as Telkom, the current stage of network development represents a critical transition period. South Africa is moving from widespread 4G connectivity toward broader 5G adoption, and Telkom is now entering the early phase of large-scale 5G deployment.

“South Africa is currently in the transition phase from 4G to 5G, and Telkom is in the early stages of 5G network deployment, about to enter a period of rapid expansion,” said Lunga Siyo, CEO of Telkom Consumer and Small Business.

With 5G device penetration already approaching 15% of its user base, Telkom has established a growing base of compatible devices and services.

“With 5G terminal penetration already approaching 15%, Telkom has established a solid user base that provides strong support for future 5G service growth,” Siyo said. “Last year, Telkom achieved significant business growth, driven by precise and efficient network construction, which effectively enabled market expansion and user acquisition.”

Looking ahead, Telkom plans to accelerate its 5G rollout and continue investing in its mobile infrastructure to build a highly competitive network that delivers stronger performance, improved reliability and a better user experience.

“Telkom will continue investing in its mobile networks to sustain existing services while preparing for the future,” Siyo said. “Globally, AI has become a major technological trend, with AI applications rapidly evolving and set to dominate the next generation of digital services.”

He added that the rise of AI will place new demands on mobile infrastructure.

“This shift brings new requirements for networks, including higher uplink capacity, ultra-low latency and greater reliability, where 5G plays a critical enabling role.”

From 5G expansion to 5G-Advanced evolution

According to David Li, Vice President of Wireless Solutions at Huawei, the global telecoms industry has already reached a major milestone in 5G development.

“From the establishment of 5G standards to the current stage, 5G has achieved large-scale development worldwide,” Li said. “Today, there are more than 300 commercial 5G networks and 3 billion 5G users globally.”

However, the next stage of development will focus on building what Huawei describes as a “real 5G network” capable of consistently delivering high performance and supporting emerging digital services.

“With 5G-A premium experience and 100-billion-level massive IoT connections, the network must further evolve toward multi-band large bandwidth and wide-coverage uplink,” Li said. “We need to build such a 5G-A oriented real 5G network to win right now and embrace future opportunities.”

This transition is driving the evolution toward 5G-Advanced, sometimes referred to as 5G-A, which aims to enhance bandwidth, expand coverage and support more demanding applications.

A key priority is the construction of high-quality, large-bandwidth networks.

“From 4G to 5G, global network construction shows that each generational leap is accompanied by the release and use of strategic spectrum,” Li said. “Mid-band large bandwidth has laid the foundation for a real 5G experience.”

He added that only networks with continuous 5G coverage can support standalone 5G evolution and advanced capabilities such as network slicing and ultra-reliable low-latency communications.

“As we move forward, high-value services across different scenarios are placing increasingly diverse demands on networks,” Li said. “It is essential to fully utilize all TDD spectrum to meet the multi-dimensional needs of the AI era.”

Collaboration between high- and low-frequency bands will also help ensure consistent user experience, particularly in high-traffic areas.

Building networks for the next generation of services

Another key priority for future network development is uplink capability.

Many emerging digital services, particularly those involving real-time interaction and content creation, place significant demands on uplink capacity. High-definition livestreaming, for example, increasingly requires uplink speeds of around 20 Mbps to support stable 4K video transmission.

“Today, high-value services, especially AI-based applications, are booming on mobile networks,” Li said.

He noted that real-time consumer services such as outdoor HD livestreaming are becoming more common.

“With 4K resolution becoming mainstream, these services demand greater uplink capability. In particular, Mobile AI services need around 20 Mbps uplink capacity everywhere.”

At the same time, the rapid development of AI applications is introducing new traffic patterns to mobile networks.

“AI technology is driving services toward multi-modality and high concurrency, changing the transmission mode from traditional IP packets to token blocks,” Li explained. “Token blocks must be transmitted in real time, completely and accurately.”

Supporting these requirements means networks must deliver consistent uplink capacity, high reliability and the ability to support large numbers of simultaneous interactions.

“Industry believes consistent gigabit uplink capability is key for AI-based services,” Li said. “This calls for an AI-oriented network with four features: gigabit uplink, high reliability, high concurrency and long-duration connectivity.”

Telkom’s strategy for service development

For Telkom, the evolution of network capabilities is closely linked to the development of new services and business opportunities.

“Based on the current market landscape in South Africa, Telkom has conducted in-depth analysis and discussions on its 5G strategy,” Siyo said.

The company’s plans focus on expanding across consumer, business and home connectivity markets.

For consumers, Telkom aims to accelerate adoption of enhanced mobile broadband services.

“We currently have around two million 5G devices connected to our network,” Siyo said. “We will accelerate eMBB user adoption while developing innovative services for premium users.”

Enterprise services represent another important growth opportunity.

“Telkom will leverage its capabilities to launch 5G leased-line services targeting SMBs and enterprise customers, expanding our footprint in the B2B market,” he said.

In the home broadband segment, Telkom already holds a strong position in wireless broadband.

“As the market leader in wireless broadband in South Africa, Telkom will continue to drive fixed wireless access growth at an accelerated pace,” Siyo said.

At the same time, the company is preparing its network for future AI-driven services.

“Telkom will proactively strengthen network infrastructure to prepare for the AI era—speeding up 5G deployment to meet the demanding requirements of AI applications, such as high uplink throughput and ultra-low latency,” Siyo said.

He added that Telkom is also exploring new AI-enabled services.

“We will explore AI-powered use cases such as AI-enhanced voice calls, AI personal assistants and intelligent customer experiences to attract and retain users.”

Monetising next-generation networks

As telecom operators expand their networks, monetisation remains a key strategic question.

“From a global perspective, the traffic-based business model remains the foundation for operators’ revenue growth,” Li said.

However, the industry is increasingly exploring new approaches as networks become more advanced and service demands diversify.

“As network capabilities advance, the industry is shifting toward experience-based models,” Li said.

One emerging model focuses on differentiated service experiences.

“The core idea is to productise network capabilities by packaging features such as latency, reliability and uplink bandwidth into standardised products,” Li explained.

Another model centres on intelligent services.

“As multimodal AI interactions become more common, the basic unit of communication will evolve from bits to tokens that carry intent and value,” Li said. “The industry may gradually move toward pricing models that combine bit-based traffic with token-based services.”

The role of partnerships

As networks grow more complex and digital ecosystems expand, partnerships between operators and technology vendors are becoming increasingly important.

For Telkom, collaboration with technology partners plays a key role in network development.

“By leveraging 5G as a foundation, Telkom aims to create a future-ready infrastructure that supports emerging AI-driven applications and digital innovation,” Siyo said.

Huawei, meanwhile, continues to invest heavily in research and cooperate with Telkom to build user-centric networks capable of delivering consistent service experiences across different applications and environments.

“At its core, the diversification of business models is about meeting users’ demand for a consistent experience,” Li said. “Huawei’s technological evolution focuses on building a user-centric flexible network that ensures consistent service experiences.”