The company has successfully deployed 10 more sites that offer 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE to the company’s customers. Eight out of these 10 sites are located in rural areas in places such as Edwaleni, Emasini, KaZondwako, Nsalitje, and Mgobodzi.
Photo Credit:www.mtn.co.sz
BY: Inside Biz
Driven by the new brand positioning-What Are We Doing Today? MTN Eswatini has continued to upgrade and extend network coverage to thousands of Emaswati, mostly those who live in underserved communities nationwide.
This is in line with the company’s Ambition 2025 strategy whose aim is to drive efficiencies and performance while reducing network complexity to better manage network operations and deliver digital services to meet the evolving demands of customers.
MTN Corporate Affairs Manager Thandiwe Mashinini disclosed that the company has successfully deployed 10 more sites that offer 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE to the company’s customers. Eight out of these 10 sites are located in rural areas in places such as Edwaleni, Emasini, KaZondwako, Nsalitje, and Mgobodzi. Mashinini said the addition of these new sites will boost digital inclusion by bridging network coverage gaps and improving broadband network access in these remote areas through the LTE network technology.
She further disclosed that MTN has also upgraded eight high data traffic sites to LTE-CA (Carrier Aggregation) in some key areas within the buzzing urban corridor. Put simply, she said the LTE-CA network technology enables these sites to better handle high traffic volumes while continuing to give customers the best connectivity experience across the coverage area.
“Traffic affects network quality because an unusually high amount of traffic can mean slow download speeds or spotty voice over internet protocol connection. Therefore, the upgrade of these sites to LTE-CA will enable our customers within these high data traffic areas to enjoy low latency and faster downloads of pictures, files, webpages, and higher quality videos,” she explained.
Furthermore, MTN has completed upgrades on 18 transmission links in the radio access network. Mashinini said the upgraded transmission links are high capacity links carrying backhaul traffic to switches, “The links had high utilization which resulted in congestion of the links before the upgrades affecting network quality. The links were upgraded to double the capacity bringing down the utilization to 60% from 90%.”
Mashinini said some of the benefits of the transmission link upgrades include but are not limited to improved quality from the reduction of packet losses from the links as well as increased transmission ring network improving transmission network redundancy.
Regarding handsets, Mashinini said the company has fully committed itself to increase access to the internet with the lowest data-enabled handset costing less than E300 because they believe that, ‘everyone deserves the benefit of a modern connected life.’
She said MTN has committed E15.7 million towards network improvement thus far. Mashinini said the company will continue to invest significantly in expanding existing capacity and installing new technologies; thus, advancing digital inclusion.
“MTN will continue to be an enabler for businesses, schools, and work-from-home arrangements. We are at an inflection point. Now, more than ever, true progress will be realized by closing the gap between CAN and DO. We will continue to roll up our sleeves and get down to business because that is what doing is all about.”
List of the new MTN sites
| SITE NAME | NETWORK | REGION |
| Mpolonjeni Dip Tank | 2G/3G/4G | Hhohho |
| Malkerns Farms | 2G/3G/4G | Manzini |
| eDwaleni | 2G/3G/4G | Manzini |
| Emasini | 2G/3G/4G | Manzini |
| KaZondwako | 2G/3G/4G | Manzini |
| Malindza (Manyeveni) | 2G/3G/4G | Lubombo |
| Madvubeni | 2G/3G/4G | Lubombo |
| Nsalitje | 2G/3G/4G | Hhohho |
| Mgobodzi | 2G/3G/4G | Hhohho |
| Velebantfu | 2G/3G/4G | Shiselweni |
List of the sites that have been upgraded to LTE-CA
| SITE NAME | REGION | TOWN |
| Kelly SBIS | Hhohho | Mbabane |
| Mbhuleni | Manzini | Matsapha |
| St Michaels School | Manzini | Manzini |
| Mahhwalala Hills | Hhohho | Mbabane |
| Ntabamhloshana | Manzini | Manzini |
| Mhlaleni | Manzini | Manzini |
| Ezulwini Freeway | Hhohho | Ezulwini |
| Makholweni | Manzini | Manzini |
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