Ericsson technology and services will support MTN Benin to provide mobile broadband services to remote rural areas.

Ericsson and MTN have partnered to provide mobile broadband services to remote rural areas in Benin.

The deal will see Ericsson support MTN's planned rural coverage across 29 sites with three-sector dual-band Radio 6626 and compact microwave radio MINI-LINK products from its Radio System portfolio.

In addition, Ericsson will also support the project with Enclosure 6140, containing lithium-ion batteries, and Solarshelf.

In a statement, Ericsson said all the sites will operate sustainably on 100 percent solar and battery power, running on clean and reliable energy sources and reducing the carbon footprint.

It said: “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 per cent salvageable – means the deal will bring significant total cost of ownership benefits to MTN Benin.”

Further, the company said, the Ericsson technology and services will support MTN Benin by enabling efficient and flexible broadband coverage to remote areas of the country.

Hossam Kandeel, vice president and head of global customer unit MTN and customer unit MTN Africa at Ericsson, commented: “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.”

Uche Ofodile, CEO, MTN Benin, said: “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."