MTN South Africa (MTN SA) and Huawei have successfully launched the world’s first commercial deployment of the pioneering SDB IBT 2D microwave solution in Johannesburg.
This advanced solution, utilizing Super Dual Band (SDB) and two-dimensional intelligent beam tracking (IBT 2D), is designed to prevent link stability issues in dual-band settings, offering unprecedented resilience against challenges such as pole shaking.
With much of South Africa situated on a plateau, the country frequently experiences high-intensity sunlight and significant temperature variations between day and night. These conditions often lead to tower deformation, particularly in monopole and mast towers, impairing the performance of large-capacity SDB transmission links—especially those using E-band frequencies.
The new IBT-capable SDB antenna addresses the urgent market demand for a single antenna that can manage dual-band transmission, circumventing the need for multiple antennas and simplifying installation.
Huawei’s investment in E-band IBT and SDB technology has culminated in the SDB IBT 2D solution, which allows a single antenna to handle both traditional and E-band transmissions. The solution’s two-dimensional IBT functionality enables real-time adjustments to vertical sway and horizontal twist, countering the effects of environmental factors like wind and sunlight. The deployment in partnership with MTN SA is the first commercial rollout of this technology worldwide.
The SDB IBT 2D solution effectively mitigates issues related to periodic link fading and instability caused by tower deformation, reinforcing the reliability of MTN SA’s microwave network. It has also expanded SDB deployment scenarios by 66% while reducing space requirements on towers by eliminating the need for two separate single-band antennas.
The advanced IBT feature ensures that tower type and antenna height are no longer limiting factors, guaranteeing a stable, high-capacity transmission and always-on connectivity.
ALSO READ: ORANGE-MASTERCARD PARTNERSHIP EXPANDS AFRICA’S ACCESS TO DIGITAL PAYMENT
Rodney Reddy, Transmission Planning Senior Manager at MTN SA, highlighted the solution’s value, stating, “Our commitment to high construction standards drives us to provide superior network services. The IBT solution resolves external link issues, ensuring stable service and playing a critical role in our E-band network development.”
James Zeng, President of Huawei’s Microwave Product Line, added, “Huawei remains committed to innovation in microwave transmission, delivering robust solutions for complex scenarios. The SDB IBT solution ensures stable transmission even in adverse weather, helping clients like MTN SA achieve their network quality goals.”
This spectrum will support 4G expansion and future 5G rollout, providing substantial capacity for mobile data and fixed wireless broadband.
