This has been accompanied by a rise in mobile broadband coverage from less than ten per cent of the population in 2010 to over half in 2016 (Figure 2.4, right). The rollout of 3G services by the national operator, Econet Telecom Lesotho (ETL) and South African based Vodacom has also provided impetus for nationwide signal coverage which boosted usage. Mobile broadband penetration stood at 37% in 201624. Vodacom was the first operator to introduce mobile broadband services in the country, based on HSPA technology.