Huawei Technologies’ RuralLink solution designed to enhance mobile and internet connectivity in remote areas, has received recognition as the ‘Best Mobile Innovation for Emerging Markets’ at the Global Mobile awards organized by the GSM Association. The award’s citation noted Huawei’s role in promoting the advancement of the human race through technology that reaches everyone. The technology has been deployed in Kenya’s
It noted that ubiquitous mobile network coverage is critical for improving education and healthcare, and plays an important role in eradicating poverty, and protecting the environment. Huawei’s RuralLink uses solar panels to solve the difficulties associated with connectivity.
In the areas where fiber is difficult and costly to deploy, RuralLink uses microwave to replace optical fibers, which reduces network construction costs and power consumption that are considered some of the most important costs for such projects.
Speaking when he received the award, Aaron Jiang, President of Huawei’s Wireless SingleRAN Product Line, said that the firm was consistently developing scenario-based coverage solutions for remote areas. Stating that more than half of Kenya’s population still have no access to mobile Internet, and among those, nearly 30 are not even covered by mobile broadband networks, Aaron explained that this provided an opportunity for Huawei to explore innovations that expand mobile broadband to connect the unconnected.
“RuralLink’s antennas allow green, simplified, and evolvable rural sites, and extend experience-guaranteed coverage to remote areas, enabling experience upgrade for more people, villages, and small and medium-sized enterprises,” he added.
Aaron pointed out that rural connectivity to the mobile and internet networks is a prominent factor that aligns with the 5 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — No Poverty, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Climate Action.
He explained that Huawei’s RuralLink solution uses innovative unique technologies to address challenges in rural communications, and provides ubiquitous coverage with ultra-low cost and power consumption. It is also the industry’s first to use microwave fronthaul technology.
Furthermore, remote sites can share baseband resources of existing base stations, eliminating the need to deploy independent baseband units. One RRU and one Channel Expand Antenna are capable of achieving three-sector coverage. With one-off deployment, RuralLink can currently support 2G, 3G, and 4G services that can evolve to 5G, providing long-term experience-guaranteed coverage for rural areas.
In line with inclusive development, Huawei continues to follow through on innovations in technology that helps remote areas improve digitalization, bring digital life to all people, and promote the balanced development of the global digital economy.
