MTN Nigeria and Ericsson have achieved a breakthrough in mobile network efficiency with the successful field deployment of the Ericsson AIR 3284, a revolutionary triple-band Massive MIMO radio that consolidates all of MTN’s 4G mid-band spectrum into a single, ultra-compact unit.
The cutting-edge solution replaces multiple traditional radios with a single energy-efficient system, slashing tower space, power consumption, and maintenance requirements. By simplifying infrastructure, MTN Nigeria is driving down operational costs while boosting network performance, especially in high-traffic urban zones.
The AIR 3284 enables real-time, intelligent capacity allocation, dynamically directing resources to congestion hotspots only when needed, ensuring optimal efficiency during normal operations and peak loads alike.
In its debut field trial, the AIR 3284 delivered 3.2 times faster downlink speeds, nearly 4 times uplink performance, and over 50% higher user throughput, while significantly easing network congestion, even during mass events serving millions of subscribers.
Yahaya Ibrahim, Chief Technical Officer at MTN Nigeria, hailed the deployment as a game-changer:
“This isn’t just about technology; it’s about delivering a superior experience when our customers need it most. By consolidating our mid-band spectrum into one smart, flexible radio, we’ve simplified operations, cut complexity, and unlocked faster, more reliable connectivity. This solution directly tackles our capacity challenges while keeping efficiency front and center, a true reflection of MTN’s innovation-driven promise to Nigeria.”
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Majda Lahlou Kassi, Vice President and Head of Ericsson West and Southern Africa, underscored the strategic impact:
“The AIR 3284 turns advanced radio engineering into real-world value. It gives MTN Nigeria the power to scale capacity on demand, reduce energy use, and future-proof their network, all from a single unit. This first-in-market deployment proves that smarter infrastructure isn’t a luxury; it’s the foundation for next-generation services across Africa.”
Designed with 5G readiness at its core, the AIR 3284 supports seamless evolution to both non-standalone and standalone 5G, enabling MTN Nigeria to meet surging data demands and roll out advanced services like immersive AR/VR, smart factories, remote healthcare, and autonomous mobility with unmatched reliability.
