Yemisi Izuora
MTN Nigeria and Huawei have moved forward with plans to expand mobile network connectivity in rural areas in Nigeria as they jointly completed the commercial deployment of the inclusive RuralCow solution.
This “one box, one site” innovation enables rapid, cost-effective mobile network rollout in remote rural areas.
By connecting the unconnected, the solution helps narrow the digital divide between urban and rural communities, unlocks the latent demand for mobile communications in rural regions, and injects vital momentum into Nigeria’s drive toward digital inclusion.
Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, with rural residents accounting for nearly half of its population—around 105 million people (World Bank, 2024).
In rural areas, the absence of reliable grid power and fiber transmission infrastructure makes the cost of building traditional base stations far higher than in urban areas.
Moreover, according to Huawei’s insights, most villages with populations of fewer than 3,000 are characterized by dispersed settlements and low average revenue per user (ARPU), which result in a prolonged return on investment (ROI) period.
These factors make it highly challenging for operators to build base stations in remote rural areas.
To accelerate the development of communications infrastructure in rural areas, Huawei and MTN jointly incubated the RuralCow solution to enable efficient mobile network rollout in remote rural areas.
RuralCow features an integrated design combining BBU, RRU, and transmission equipment, and supports multiple frequency bands and radio access technologies (RATs).
Compared with traditional macro base stations, this solution cuts overall power consumption by about 85%, reduces the equipment quantity by roughly 70%, and requires no heavy machinery for installation.
RuralCow operates without fiber or microwave links and can achieve non-line-of-sight (NLOS) transmission distances of up to about 30 kilometers, significantly enhancing coverage in remote areas.
Additionally, this solution incorporates intelligent remote operation and maintenance functions, minimizing manual site visits and improving efficiency.
Live network deployment statistics show that for villages with populations between 1,000 and 3,000, RuralCow shortens the ROI period from 5–10 years to around 3 years, delivering efficient coverage and sustainable commercialization in underserved regions.
“We believe that everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. Rapidly extending wireless coverage to remote rural areas and ensuring equal access to digital benefits is our shared mission,” said Yahaya Ibrahim, Chief Technical Officer, MTN Nigeria.
“As a leading connectivity enabler for remote areas, we believe technology must benefit all,” said Fang Xiang, Vice President of Huawei Wireless Network Product Line.
“Our RuralCow is simple and investment-efficient to deploy, which are essential for operators to build healthy, sustainable business ecosystems. Ultimately, we envision a fully connected world with no digital divide between urban and rural areas.”
Alex Xing, Vice-President of Huawei MTN Key Account Department, said: “Rural connectivity in Africa is evolving from network rollout to sustainable business growth.”
“By combining simplified site solutions including RuralCow with one-stop service centers, cloud phones and charging services, we are working with MTN to build a rural business model that lowers deployment costs while enabling new revenue opportunities.”
“This approach is transforming rural connectivity from a coverage-driven activity into a scalable business model. Looking ahead, we will continue supporting MTN to expand this model across more African countries, help bridge the digital divide, and unlock Africa’s connectivity potential.”