MTN SA and Huawei launch world's first commercial SDB IBT 2D Microwave deployment

Johannesburg, South Africa – MTN South Africa (hereinafter referred to as MTN SA) and Huawei have completed the world’s first commercial deployment of the innovative SDB IBT 2D microwave solution in Johannesburg. This breakthrough solution leverages Super Dual Band (SDB) and two-dimensional intelligent beam tracking (IBT 2D) to prevent pole shaking from affecting link stability in dual-band scenarios.

With a large portion of its territory on a plateau, South Africa is typically exposed to intense sunlight. Separately, the considerable temperature difference between day and night can lead to deformation of towers across the country, typically monopole and mast towers. This deformation degrades the performance of existing large-capacity SDB transmission links (the E-band frequencies sub-system particularly) and has a negative impact on services. Given that it is difficult to obtain tower space and permission for installing two separate antennas for one physical link at a single site, the new IBT-capable SDB antenna fulfils an urgent market need.

Huawei continuously invests in E-band IBT and SDB technologies and launched the innovative SDB IBT 2D solution that allows a single antenna to support dual-band transmission via both traditional band and E-band. The solution also supports two-dimensional IBT function, which enables vertical sway and horizontal twist to be adjusted in real time to counteract the shaking, warping, and deformation of poles and towers caused by sunshine or wind. The co-deployment of this solution with MTN SA in Johannesburg marks its first commercial deployment in the world.

Through this deployment, the SDB IBT 2D solution helps MTN SA address periodic fading and unstable performance of microwave links caused by periodic pole deformation, while also enhancing the anti-shaking performance of SDB links. This guarantees 100% reliable transmission and expands SDB deployment scenarios by 66% for MTN SA. Deploying this new antenna occupies less space on a tower than installing two separate single-band antennas. Additionally, the IBT function removes restrictions on tower type and antenna installation height and ensures that services are always online. The SDB IBT 2D solution will enhance MTN SA's site construction by providing large-capacity and consistently stable transmission.

Commenting on the deployment of the IBT solution, Rodney Reddy, Transmission Planning Senior Manager of MTN SA, remarked: "We are dedicated to delivering the best network and services for users by adhering to high construction standards. IBT solution helps us solve link problems caused by the external environment to ensure stable service running. It is now an essential solution for our E-band network construction."

James Zeng, President of Huawei's Microwave Product Line, commented: "We are committed to continuous innovation in microwave transmission. We offer high-quality microwave transmission solutions tailored to multiple complex scenarios. Our latest SDB IBT solution supports stable transmission even in complex weather conditions, enabling customers to build high-quality networks to exacting standards."