MTN Zambia and Huawei have completed the world's first commercial deployment of Huawei's new five-band LampSite solution, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of indoor 5G connectivity in Africa.

The deployment, carried out at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, combines five frequency bands into a single system, enabling faster speeds, improved network capacity, and a more seamless indoor mobile experience for users.

The solution integrates 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz, 2.3 GHz, TDD 2.6 GHz, and 3.5 GHz spectrum bands within a single unit while supporting multi-band coordination. According to the companies, the deployment can deliver peak download speeds of up to 1Gbps, bringing indoor network performance closer to outdoor 5G experiences.

Addressing Growing Demand for Indoor 5G

The deployment comes as Zambia experiences increasing demand for mobile internet services driven by growing consumption of HD video, livestreaming platforms, cloud applications, and other data-intensive services.

High-traffic locations such as airports, exhibition centres, business districts, and conference venues are placing additional pressure on existing indoor network infrastructure. Traditional indoor solutions often struggle to provide the speed and capacity required for modern digital services, particularly in large venues with significant user density.

The challenge was particularly evident at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, one of Zambia's busiest venues for international conferences, exhibitions, government events, and business gatherings.

According to Huawei, conventional distributed antenna systems and outdoor macro base stations were unable to consistently deliver the level of indoor coverage and performance required to meet rising 5G expectations.

Five-Band Architecture Improves Network Performance

Huawei's next-generation LampSite solution was designed to address these challenges through a simplified architecture capable of supporting multiple generations of mobile technology simultaneously.

The platform supports 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G services within a single deployment, allowing operators to maximise spectrum utilisation while reducing network complexity.

By combining multiple frequency bands and enabling carrier aggregation, the solution significantly improves network performance and user experience. Huawei stated that the deployment provides gigabit-level connectivity indoors, supporting applications such as HD video streaming, cloud services, online collaboration, and emerging immersive experiences.

The company also noted that the deployment reduces the number of required head-end units by up to 50%, helping operators lower capital expenditure and accelerate deployment timelines.



Focus on Efficiency and Future Readiness

Beyond performance improvements, the LampSite platform has been designed with energy efficiency in mind.

Huawei says the solution incorporates intelligent dormancy features and symbol-level power-saving capabilities that support "0 Bit 0 Watt" operations during periods of low traffic, helping operators reduce operational costs while improving sustainability.

The platform is also built to support future network evolution, including the transition toward 5G-Advanced technologies. This could enable support for next-generation digital experiences such as augmented reality, extended reality applications, immersive navigation services, and glasses-free 3D experiences.

MTN Zambia Targets Enhanced Customer Experience

Speaking on the deployment, MTN Zambia Chief Technology Officer Thomas Ngoma described the project as an important step in delivering more consistent network performance for customers.

According to Ngoma, the deployment allows MTN Zambia to offer a seamless indoor and outdoor connectivity experience while strengthening the company's ability to support increasingly data-intensive applications.

He noted that reliable indoor connectivity has become critical as businesses and consumers rely more heavily on digital services, video communications, online collaboration tools, and immersive technologies.

Expanding Indoor 5G Across Zambia

Huawei also indicated that the deployment serves as a benchmark for future indoor 5G expansion projects across Zambia and other markets.

Dr Philip Song, President of Huawei's Small Cell Product Line, said the company intends to deepen its collaboration with MTN Zambia and replicate the solution across other high-traffic locations including airports, transport hubs, and central business districts.

The companies believe improved indoor connectivity will play an important role in strengthening Zambia's digital infrastructure and supporting broader economic growth as digital adoption continues to accelerate across the country.

The deployment highlights the growing importance of indoor network performance as operators seek to unlock the full potential of 5G services and meet increasing consumer expectations for fast, reliable connectivity regardless of location.