Thought Leadership by Kellen van Rooyen, Account Manager at Duxbury Networking
Reliable cellular connectivity is a business-critical necessity. Yet many South African companies still face persistent issues with weak indoor coverage due to infrastructure limitations, signal-blocking construction materials, and growing network congestion. At Duxbury Networking, we frequently engage with businesses struggling with these connectivity challenges, which can severely impact customer service, operational efficiency, and overall productivity.
In South Africa, companies operate within a unique set of connectivity constraints. According to a recent report, nearly 57% of businesses in the country experience disruptions due to poor cellular coverage. Our buildings, particularly commercial and industrial structures, often feature heavy concrete walls and metal frameworks that significantly reduce mobile signal strength indoors.
Additionally, as more businesses embrace digital transformation, the strain on networks has increased exponentially, leading to congestion that further hampers connectivity. Mobile data traffic revenue in South Africa is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 5% to top $11 billion by 2029, intensifying the need for stronger, more reliable connectivity solutions.
Partnership-driven approach
To address these issues effectively, innovative and reliable solutions are needed. This has seen us partner with Nextivity to deliver solutions specifically engineered to overcome these challenges. Nextivity provides advanced cellular signal-boosting technologies that have proven to be transformative for South African businesses by significantly improving indoor reception and connectivity.
Signal-boosting technology differs from traditional cellular repeaters. These often amplify signals indiscriminately, potentially leading to network interference and regulatory challenges. However, signal boosters use intelligent, carrier-grade technology that selectively enhances cellular signals. This smart approach ensures compliance with network standards and consistently delivers reliable and powerful connectivity exactly where businesses need it most.
One of the strengths of going the signal-boosting route is how easy the technology is to integrate into existing environments. Businesses no longer need to embark on extensive and disruptive infrastructure projects to improve connectivity. Being able to access scalable solutions that can adapt to different spaces, from small offices and retail environments to large warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and healthcare institutions, has been proven to be a competitive differentiator. This flexibility means that enterprises can easily improve cellular coverage without significant capital expenditure or disruption.
Transforming work
A study indicates that 26% of companies surveyed experienced lost business or sales due to connectivity issues. Furthermore, nearly a third of businesses faced difficulties communicating with customers due to underperforming connectivity, leading to reduced employee productivity.
This means that local businesses have no choice but to strengthen their cellular coverage to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. For example, enhanced cellular coverage can enable better communication between remote and central offices, improve the reliability of mobile payments in retail settings, and facilitate seamless video conferencing and remote collaboration in office environments.
5G driver
Clearly, there is a need for robust indoor connectivity. This will become even more pronounced with the widespread rollout of 5G networks in South Africa. The higher frequencies used by 5G networks are even more susceptible to obstruction by physical barriers, making effective indoor signal enhancement crucial.
Research shows that by 2027, more than 60% of all mobile data traffic in South Africa will be carried over 5G networks, further emphasising the need for advanced signal-boosting technology. Companies that proactively adopt intelligent signal-boosting solutions will gain a competitive advantage, ensuring that their networks can reliably support the bandwidth and latency demands of tomorrow’s digital landscape.
The future of South African business connectivity hinges on the ability to maintain strong and uninterrupted mobile coverage. In a business environment increasingly dependent on mobile technology, eliminating dead zones is essential.