MTN Nigeria says it has partnered with Huawei to achieve a groundbreaking milestone in mobile network development by completing the world’s first commercial deployment of a Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) that boosts data transmission.
In telecoms parlance, Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) is a wireless technology that uses multiple transmitters and receivers to transfer more data at the same time.
MTN Nigeria says that the milestone saw the rollout of the world’s first commercial deployment of a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) tri-band Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) site.
This innovative solution, operating on the 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz frequency bands, has significantly enhanced network capacity and user experience, marking a major step forward in Nigeria’s telecommunications landscape, according to MTN Nigeria.
MTN Nigeria says the commercial FDD tri-band Massive MIMO solution is the first of its kind globally, featuring a downlink LTE capacity three to four times higher than the previous 4T4R setup. This technology can amplify capacity by up to seven times as networks evolve to New Radio (NR), which includes 5G standards.
MTN Nigeria: Shift from 2G/3G to 4G driving surge in digital services
The telecoms company says that Nigeria has been undergoing a rapid transition from 2G/3G to 4G networks over the past two years. This shift has been accompanied by a surge in new digital services, leading to a doubling of traffic demand on MTN Nigeria’s networks.
As a result, the average Physical Resource Block (PRB) usage has reached 60%, with hotspot areas experiencing over 90% usage. To address these growing demands, MTN Nigeria and Huawei say that they have collaborated to scale the adoption of single-band FDD Massive MIMO technology.
MTN Nigeria says the commercial FDD tri-band Massive MIMO solution is the first of its kind globally, featuring a downlink LTE capacity three to four times higher than the previous 4T4R setup. This technology can amplify capacity by up to seven times as networks evolve to New Radio (NR), which includes 5G standards.
The solution uses industry-leading true wideband and compact dipole technologies to integrate the deployment of 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz bands.
Notably, this design maintains the same device size as traditional dual-band Massive MIMO, adding frequency bands and power without increasing weight or frontal area, ensuring excellent performance and easy deployment.
According to the telecoms company, the deployment of the FDD tri-band Massive MIMO has resulted in a 90% surge in LTE traffic volume and a 252% increase in user-perceived rates during peak hours compared to the previous 4T4R setup.
This significant enhancement in network capacity and user experience aligns with MTN Nigeria’s goals of improving service delivery and meeting the growing demands of its subscribers, the telecoms company says.
Huawei’s FDD tri-band Massive MIMO technology is part of a broader global strategy to optimize sub-3 GHz spectrum utilization, addressing the escalating demand for 4G data traffic and enhancing the 5G user experience, according to the Chinese equipment supplier.
Initial deployments have begun in several African countries, including Nigeria, Angola, and Côte d’Ivoire, with plans to expand to 15 additional countries across the Asia Pacific, Central Asia, and Latin America regions.
The FDD tri-band Massive MIMO solution offers several technological advantages. It uses Real Wide Bandwidth and Compact Dipole technologies, allowing multiple frequency bands to share the same hardware components.
This design results in a product that is 48% lighter and smaller, consumes 10% less power, and reduces operational costs related to tower rentals and energy consumption.
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