South Africans have been accessing fifth-generation mobile technology since last May, thanks to the government's commitment to meet the high demand for connectivity created by the coronavirus. Mobile operator Vodacom was the first to bring it to market, followed by MTN.

In preparation for the end-of-year celebrations, competition on the South African telecom market has increased. The operators are each in the process of bettering their services for the populations, especially in this period marked by travel restrictions.

While MTN says 5G is part of its commitment to innovation and to defending its position as the best mobile network in South Africa, Vodacom says it is the first to launch a 5G mobile network in the country.

The two telecom operators, who have in the past taken advantage of the holiday season to increase their revenues, intend to take advantage of the current special context to appeal to the fans of streaming, video games, and other connectivity-hungry services, who are stuck at home.