ZTE and MTN Launch Global Five-frequency RRU
ZTE Corporation a leading global provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, and MTN, a leading operator in Africa, announced today the successful commercial deployment of the world’s first five frequency remote radio unit (RRU). This milestone achievement was in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It marks a significant breakthrough in global RF technology and injecting strong momentum into the technological evolution of the telecommunications industry in Africa.
The need of the market
As one of the largest and most advanced telecommunications markets in Africa, South Africa serves over 60 million people, and MTN has achieved over 97% LTE population coverage nationwide. This extensive coverage reflects MTN’s commitment to providing high-quality communication services to even the most remote communities.
With the increasing demand for multi band and multi-mode services, network operators are facing multiple challenges such as power consumption, tower load, and limited space, which may hinder the evolution of mobile networks. The latest deployment of MTN’s five frequency RRU directly addresses these challenges. This innovative solution enhances network performance, improves energy efficiency, simplifies deployment processes, and helps the next generation of connections scale faster and more sustainably.
Potential of RRU
Adding frequency bands to mobile sites usually requires additional hardware, extra space, and power. ZTE Corporation uses a self-developed chip driven five frequency RRU to integrate all the mid to low frequency bands (FDD) of MTN South Africa into a compact unit. This integration reduces the number of wireless access network RF modules on the tower by 50%, equipment weight by 23%, and wind resistance by 18%. These optimizations simplify site construction, reduce deployment complexity, and free up valuable space on the tower.
In addition, ZTE’s innovative Super-N amplifier architecture adopts high-density amplifier arrays and on-demand activation technology, overcoming the efficiency bottleneck of traditional Doherty architecture, maintaining high efficiency under different loads, significantly reducing the total power consumption of the site by 42.7%, and improving energy efficiency (Wh/GB) by 45.8%. This not only supports South Africa’s construction of a green and low-carbon society, but also sets a new benchmark for sustainable development in the industry, demonstrating the enormous potential of technological innovation in balancing economic and environmental benefits.
Remarks
MTN South Africa Chief Technology Officer Rami Farah said, “MTN has partnered with ZTE to complete the world’s first commercial deployment of a five frequency RRU, effectively addressing multiple challenges faced by operators in terms of coverage, capacity, cost, and energy efficiency. It provides a replicable and highly integrated site solution for African and even global markets, accelerating the evolution of telecommunications networks towards higher efficiency and lower carbon emissions, continuously injecting core power into Africa’s digital economy, and promoting Africa’s telecommunications technology to a higher level. ”
Luca Shen, CEO of ZTE South Africa, said, “ZTE has always regarded product leadership as its core competitiveness and committed to providing cutting-edge solutions. The deep cooperation with MTN not only achieves mutual benefit and win-win results, but also accelerates the rapid upgrade of South Africa’s telecommunications network, setting a benchmark for the digital transformation of the entire African continent. ”
ZTE and MTN have always been firmly committed to promoting the development of telecommunications infrastructure in Africa, focusing on energy conservation, consumption reduction, and digital economy construction. Guided by the shared vision of “technology guarding nature and innovation driving the future”, both sides will continue to work together to bridge the digital divide, build smarter and more sustainable networks, and contribute to Africa’s economic growth and social progress.
This deployment is an important step in promoting digital transformation in Africa, highlighting the enormous potential of innovative technologies to drive economic growth while promoting environmental sustainability.