MTN Nigeria and Huawei Roll Out ‘RuralCow’ to Transform Connectivity in Remote Communities

MTN Nigeria and Huawei have completed the commercial deployment of RuralCow, an all-in-one, rapid-deployment mobile base station designed to bring reliable network coverage to some of Nigeria’s most remote and underserved communities.

The milestone marks a major leap in Nigeria’s efforts to bridge its urban–rural digital divide and extend mobile connectivity to millions who remain unconnected. With nearly 105 million Nigerians living in rural areas – almost half the population – the absence of power infrastructure, fibre transmission and the high cost of traditional network rollout have long stalled rural connectivity expansion.

Huawei’s RuralCow solution was built specifically for low-density settlements where traditional base stations are financially unviable. Many rural villages with fewer than 3,000 residents generate low ARPU, making infrastructure deployment expensive with a typical ROI of 5 to 10 years.

RuralCow changes the equation.

The compact solution integrates the baseband unit, radio, and transmission equipment into a single lightweight system that:

• Cuts power consumption by around 85%
• Reduces equipment volume by about 70%
• Requires no heavy machinery for installation
• Operates without fibre or microwave backhaul
• Supports non-line-of-sight transmission up to 30 km
• Enables remote, intelligent O&M to minimise field visits

Live deployment data shows that the ROI for rural sites drops to around 3 years, making previously unviable communities commercially reachable.

MTN Nigeria’s Chief Technical Officer, Yahaya Ibrahim, said the operator remains committed to ensuring no community is left behind in the digital era.

“We believe everyone deserves the benefits of a modern connected life. Rapidly extending wireless coverage to remote rural areas and ensuring equal access is our shared mission.”

Huawei’s Vice President for Wireless Network Product Line, Fang Xiang, emphasised the company’s dedication to inclusion-driven innovation.

“RuralCow is an ultra-simple, green, and cost-effective solution that brings leading technology to rural communities. We will continue pushing to create a digitally inclusive world by connecting the unconnected.”

With RuralCow, MTN Nigeria and Huawei aim to unlock the latent demand for communication services in rural communities, supporting education, healthcare, agriculture, trade and overall socio-economic growth.

The solution not only lowers barriers to rural connectivity but also provides a sustainable business model that could reshape how African operators expand networks in hard-to-reach regions.

MTN Nigeria’s rollout positions the country as a continental leader in innovative rural coverage strategies, bringing millions closer to the digital future.

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