Wireless Networks

Zong 4G deploys ZTE’s 8T8R UBR and DIA to save tower space

Zong 4G deploys ZTE’s 8T8R UBR and DIA to save tower space
Image credit: Kabiur Rahman Riyad | Unsplash

ZTE announced on Thursday that China Mobile Pakistan (CMPak), which operates under the brand Zong 4G, is the first operator to commercially launch its high-power 8T8R ultra-broadband radio (UBR) and digital intelligent antenna (DIA) solution.

According to ZTE, the UBR solution delivers 8x120W of power for the 1800-MHz and 2100-MHz bands in a single integrated RRU that replaces multiple legacy RRUs. ZTE said this saves Zong up to 67% of RRUs for towers, which reduces deployment complexity and antenna space requirements, lowering the overall equipment footprint.

The 8T8R UBR solution is coupled with ZTE's DIA antenna solution to support software-defined beamforming either for two 4T4R cells for the current 4G network or one 8T8R cell for 5G technologies.

ZTE said that the combined UBR and DIA solution is already resulting in significant performance enhancements, including a capacity increase of 34% for daily use and 83% during peak hours, which has also boosted the user experience.

ZTE said the two companies are also exploring cost-efficient deployment strategies. For example, newly rolled-out sites will feature one 4T4R cell and two 2T2R cells per site in scenarios where space and power are limited.

It’s the second UBR-related announcement in Pakistan from ZTE in the past month. At the end of July, ZTE said digital operator Jazz had deployed its UBR solution and massive MIMO gear, although that UBR deployment featured different power settings for three bands (2×80W at 900 MHz and 4×140W at both 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz).



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