Ericsson and MTN have
partnered to provide affordable and reliable mobile broadband services to
remote rural areas in Benin that have limited or no connectivity.
Under
the deal, Ericsson will support MTN Benin’s planned rural coverage across 29
sites with energy-efficient three-sector dual-band Radio 6626 and compact
microwave radio MINI-LINK products from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio,
as well as Enclosure 6140 containing among others lithium-ion batteries and
Solarshelf. All the sites will run sustainably on 100 percent solar and battery
power, running on clean and reliable energy sources and reducing carbon
footprint
The
rural coverage solution from Ericsson also includes Managed Services, which
will incorporate the provision of preventive and corrective maintenance
activities for the tower sites on top of a range of other elements. These
services – alongside the innovative tower engineering that ensures each site is
easy and cost-efficient to deploy, re-deploy as needed and is 100 percent
salvageable – means the deal will bring significant total cost of ownership
(TCO) benefits to MTN Benin.
Combined,
the Ericsson technology and services comprising the deal will support MTN Benin
by enabling efficient and flexible broadband coverage to remote areas of the
country, thereby driving a more inclusive digital economy.
Uche
OFODILE, CEO of MTN Benin says: "As
everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life, we need to ensure
that “everywhere we go” across Benin country our populations, whether in rural
or urban areas have access to our network. Expanding mobile broadband services
across Benin, and in rural areas in particular, is a vision we share with
Ericsson. By bringing connectivity to Benin’s communities, we ensure MTN’s
contribution to the digital economic development, empowerment of the local
population, and strengthening of the network infrastructure in Benin."
Hossam
Kandeel, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit MTN and Customer Unit
MTN Africa at Ericsson, says: “In today's
interconnected world, access to reliable and affordable mobile broadband
services is critical for social and economic progress. By working alongside MTN
Benin to bring affordable and reliable mobile broadband services to rural areas
of the country, we aspire to bridge the nation’s digital divide and create a
more resilient and prosperous future for the continent. Rolling out solar
solutions, as we are doing with MTN Benin, promotes greener site solutions and
reduces environmental impact supporting MTN’s Road to Zero Carbon emissions, a
pledge which Ericsson joined and expressed commitment to in 2022”
