MTN trials in South Africa have shown how mmWave repeater technology can crack one of 5G's biggest coverage challenges.

TechCentral

MTN South Africa and Pivotal Commware have completed field trials of 5G mmWave repeater technology in Vanderbijlpark and Seshego, demonstrating significant improvements in fixed-wireless access (FWA) broadband coverage. Without repeaters, test sites could only connect to 4G or weak 5G signals; with repeaters active, download speeds improved 2–5x. The trials address mmWave's core limitation — poor signal penetration through obstacles like buildings and foliage — by redirecting and amplifying signals without requiring new macro cell towers. MTN obtained trial licences from regulator Icasa and used WaveScape planning software to optimize equipment placement. The technology is seen as a way to offload FWA traffic from congested sub-6GHz spectrum onto dedicated high-bandwidth mmWave spectrum, particularly in areas where fibre deployment is limited.

MTN mmWave trials show promise for extending 5G broadband reach

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