Johannesburg – September 30, 2025 – MTN South Africa, in collaboration with Ericsson, has completed a major 5G core modernisation project designed to deliver lower latency, higher data throughput, and an improved user experience across its mobile network.
The project saw MTN deploy Ericsson’s dual-mode 5G core solution, including cloud-native packet core and user management functions, on Ericsson’s Cloud Native Infrastructure Solution (CNIS). Several network functions were also upgraded and continue to run on Ericsson’s NFVI-powered virtualised infrastructure.
Among the highlights was the world’s first in-service software upgrade of an Ericsson packet core gateway (PCG) node with a co-located packet core firewall—executed without disrupting 2.52 million live user sessions and 40 Gbps of active data traffic.
MTN also introduced Ericsson’s cloud-native cloud core policy controller (CCPC), configured as a policy and charging rules function (PCRF). This enables MTN to apply real-time dynamic policies for non-standalone 5G, while also providing support for the policy control function (PCF) when the operator rolls out a standalone 5G core.
Additionally, MTN successfully carried out a container-as-a-service rolling upgrade (CaaS-RU) on Ericsson’s Cloud Container Distribution (CCD) platform, with no service disruption while CCPC was managing around 2 million live sessions.
“The solution enhances the operator’s session, mobility management, and policy control capabilities while laying the groundwork for future 5G standalone,” said Sandile Dhlomo, Head of Ericsson South Africa.
Solomzi Mnyaka, GM of Network Services Engineering and L2 Support at MTN South Africa, added: “The implementation of Ericsson’s cloud-native policy controller and packet core gateway as part of the dual-mode 5G Core solution enables us to respond more quickly to customer demands, launch new services with agility, and simplify our internal processes through automation.”
