Vodacom Lesotho at 30: From one portable antenna to a digital nation

‘MATHATO SEBOKA

MASERU – When Vodacom Lesotho switched on its first portable base station in 1996, mobile communication was virtually unknown in the country.

This week, the company celebrates three decades of operations — a milestone that underscores its transformation from a fledgling start-up into the backbone of Lesotho’s digital economy.

Today, Vodacom Lesotho serves approximately 1.21 million customers, commanding an 85 percent market share. Its national footprint has grown to 422 base stations, including 101 solar-powered sites, delivering 2G coverage to 97 percent of the country, 3G to 98 percent, and 4G/LTE to 96 percent. In one of the world’s most challenging terrains — characterised by rugged mountains and remote highlands — that reach is no small feat.

The company’s entry into Lesotho came at a time when fixed-line infrastructure was sparse and mobile communication remained a distant dream for most Basotho. Vodacom, as the country’s first mobile operator, laid the foundations for a sector that has since become central to national life.

From enabling a farmer in Mokhotlong to check market prices, to allowing a student in Thaba-Tseka access online learning materials, the network has quietly reshaped daily existence.

Beyond infrastructure, the economic impact is substantial. Vodacom Lesotho directly employs more than 300 Basotho and supports thousands more through its ecosystem, including a national network of 14 000 M-Pesa agents.

The company has maintained a strong localisation profile and a consistent record of meeting tax, dividend and regulatory obligations — contributing significantly to government coffers and broader economic stability.

Reflecting on the journey, Chief Executive Officer, Mohale Ralebitso, said connectivity has fundamentally altered life in Lesotho.

“I am inspired not only by how far we have come, but also by the connections we’ve built together,” Ralebitso said. “When Vodacom entered Lesotho in 1996, mobile communication was a distant dream. Today, connectivity shapes every aspect of daily life.”

He pointed to concrete benefits: “A single signal beam bridges distances, transforming healthcare delivery, education access and agricultural practices. Innovation has fuelled our small, medium and large enterprises, while also streamlining government services — ensuring social grants reach vulnerable Basotho efficiently and with dignity.”

The company has also extended connectivity to remote communities, enabling access to essential services and supporting digitisation across government, banking, retail, manufacturing and logistics. Beyond core telecommunications, Vodacom has invested in education, health, public safety, youth entrepreneurship, gender-based violence response, disability inclusion, humanitarian support and community development.

As it marks 30 years, Ralebitso reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment: “This thirty-year partnership with the government and the nation has been our driving force. We are proud to continue this journey, committed to connecting every Mosotho to opportunity and a better future.”

From a single antenna in 1996 to a nationwide digital backbone in 2026, Vodacom Lesotho’s story is, in many ways, the story of modern Lesotho itself — connected, resilient and looking ahead.