Vodacom South Africa It claims to have achieved uplink speeds of 254Mbit/s in a trial of 5G technology it calls “Superupload”, which it says is a first for the African continent.
This technology allows a 5G device to use two different channels simultaneously to upload data, with the device automatically selecting the faster path as network conditions change. The result is significantly faster uploads, smoother video calls and more consistent performance for cloud-based applications, Vodacom said in a statement on Thursday.
TechCentral could not immediately independently verify the claim that the upload speeds achieved were indeed a first in Africa.
Uplink speed – the rate at which data is sent to and from a device rather than received – has historically lagged download performance on mobile networks. But the rise of cloud computing, videoconferencing, AI-powered tools, and real-time collaboration has made upload capability increasingly important.
“We make significant investments in modernizing our network for the benefit of our customers,” said Beverley Ngwenya, technology director at Vodacom South Africa. “This isn't just faster uploads – it represents a fundamental shift in what makes mobile connectivity possible.”
change in thinking
The 254Mbit/s figure is notable because uplink speeds of that order are typically associated with high-end fiber-to-the-home connections. However, Vodacom has not yet confirmed when this technology will be available to customers on a commercial basis, nor which handsets will support it. The company described this achievement as a “successful test” rather than a commercial launch.
The operator did not disclose which spectrum bands or specific technical configurations underpinned the testing – such as whether Superupload relied on complementary uplinks, uplink carrier aggregation or some other approach – making it difficult to assess the broader implications for commercial deployment.
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Still, the focus on uplink performance marks a meaningful shift in the way South African operators think about 5G. While early 5G marketing focused almost entirely on download speeds, the demands of modern cloud-first workloads are pushing upload capacity higher up the priority list.
Vodacom has positioned the technology as supporting low latency and increased stability for video streaming, real-time communications and AI-powered business applications. — (c) 2026 NewsCentral Media
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