Connecting remote communities in Ghana and China

(Posted June 2022) It’s a core mission of Huawei to provide reliable connectivity to everyone, no matter where they are. We consider this a basic right. As the world leader in both wireless and fixed networks, we have an arsenal of solutions to reach the unconnected.

RuralStar is our flagship wireless solution for isolated communities. This simple but elegant base station, often powered entirely by solar panels, provides 2G, 3G, or 4G coverage in villages and small towns where no phone service previously existed. So far, about 50 million people in 40 countries rely on RuralStar for their daily communications.

RuralStar applies wireless backhaul technology that doesn't require "line-of-sight" to link to other nodes, making it perfect for challenging terrain like deserts, mountainous regions, and rural valleys. In practice, that means it can go to work wherever people are. The simplicity of the system means that a node can be built in less than seven days, cutting setup costs and time by up to 70%. And its footprint is minimal - RuralStar consumes no more energy than five lightbulbs.

With its low cost, RuralStar allows network operators to recoup their investment simply by selling SIM cards in the communities where they’ve installed it.

Find out what RuralStar did for the village of Banka, Ghana:

Scenarios and requirements vary widely from community to community around the world. In Qinghai, one of China’s poorest provinces, Huawei teamed up with Qinghai Unicom to connect thousands of communities with optical fiber. Optical fiber can carry vast amounts of data at light-speed with a minimal impact on the environment. Now, even independent yak farmers can achieve the digital transformation of their ranch!

Optical connectivity transforms yak farming in Qinghai：