Ethio Telecom, in partnership with Huawei, has launched the first GigaAAU FDD tri-band Massive MIMO site in North Africa, marking a regional milestone in mobile network technology. The deployment aims to improve network performance and enhance the user experience across the operator’s 4G services.

A GigaAAU Tri-Band Massive MIMO site is an advanced antenna system that can operate on three frequency bands simultaneously and serve many users at once. By focusing wireless signals directly to devices, it increases data speeds, reduces network interference, and handles higher traffic efficiently.

According t o Ethio Telecom, live network data show a 70% growth in 4G traffic and a 68% increase in average network speeds, enabling smoother video streaming, online gaming, and faster downloads, even during peak hours.

Huawei’s solution integrates three frequency bands (1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, and 2.6 GHz) into a single antenna unit. It uses enhanced beamforming and intelligent scheduling to manage network traffic and reduce interference, with reported per-user speed improvements of 20% to 30%. The system also includes energy-saving features, reducing power consumption during off-peak periods.

The solution has been tested and deployed in more than 20 networks globally and has earned recognition from telecom operators for its performance.

Ethio Telecom has been advancing its digital transformation with Huawei’s support, including previous deployments such as North Africa’s first FDD BladeAAU solution. The new GigaAAU rollout represents a continuation of this collaboration, aimed at expanding network capacity and supporting Ethiopia’s growing digital services sector.