The initiative will be executed in three phases, starting this month until the end of 2026. In phase one, 5 000 "carefully selected" customers, based on usage profiles, spending patterns, and tenure, will be offered 4G smartphones, mainly in Gauteng province, MTN said in a statement on Monday.

In phase two, more than 130 000 customers nationally will be offered the devices and then in the third phase, more than 1.1 million MTN customers across the country will benefit.

The initiative comes as SA plans a total shutdown of 2G and 3G networks by December 31, 2027, to free up radio waves for faster 4G LTE and 5G networks.

Critics of the plan had argued that phasing 2G and 3G networks risked exacerbating the digital divide as many low-income consumers, particularly those in remote areas, may not be able to afford smartphones designed for faster networks.

This in turn would mean a drop in customer numbers for mobile operators and lower revenue.

--Reuters--