MTN Nigeria, in partnership with Huawei, has successfully tested a 25Gbps full-duplex microwave link, marking the first commercial deployment of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The trial, conducted on the E-band spectrum (70/80 GHz), deployed advanced full-duplex technology to achieve a data transmission rate of 25 gigabits per second over a 1 000 MHz channel.
The result represents a fourfold increase in spectral efficiency compared to conventional systems, setting a new benchmark for high-capacity wireless backhaul in Nigeria.
The breakthrough comes amid rising demand for high-speed connectivity driven by video streaming, cloud computing, and Augmented Reality applications.
This new microwave link offers a viable alternative to fibre in delivering ultra-fast connectivity, particularly in dense urban commercial hubs where fibre deployment is often limited by cost or physical constraints, said MTN Nigeria.
The milestone is a significant step in our network evolution strategy, reinforcing our commitment to deploying next-generation technologies to meet growing data consumption, according to Yahaya Ibrahim, chief technology officer of MTN Nigeria.
Unlike traditional systems that transmit in one direction at a time, the full-duplex solution enables simultaneous two-way data transmission across frequency channels.
This architecture significantly improves efficiency, reduces latency, and enhances overall network performance—all of which are key requirements for the continued 5G rollout.
MTN confirmed that the 25Gbps capacity was achieved using currently available spectrum resources, while the technology has the potential to scale up to 50Gbps using a 2 000 MHz configuration.
The system also integrates advanced antenna designs and interference mitigation algorithms to ensure stable transmission.
The development could accelerate Nigeria’s 5G rollout by solving the backhaul capacity bottleneck, say industry analysts. It is also expected to enhance service delivery for enterprises and consumers, supporting sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, and digital media.
With continued investment in high-capacity networks, stakeholders believe Nigeria is better positioned to support its expanding digital economy and the massive data traffic demands of the next decade.
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