MTN South Africa and ZTE Scale AI-Powered Energy Saving Solution Across Western Cape
The solution delivered significant energy-efficiency improvements and contributed to lower operating energy consumption across the trial sites. Following these positive results, the deployment was expanded across the Western Cape region in Q2 2026.
ZTE Corporation, a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, and MTN South Africa, one of the country’s leading mobile network operators, have advanced the commercial validation of ZTE AIR RAN EnergyTurbo, an AI-native closed-loop energy intelligence solution designed to improve mobile network energy efficiency while maintaining a stable customer experience.
In a commercial trial conducted across selected Cape Town sites, EnergyTurbo demonstrated measurable AI-driven value under live network conditions. While baseline energy-saving features delivered energy savings of 2.8% per site, EnergyTurbo with AI achieved savings of 13.5%, representing an additional uplift of 10.7 percentage points. The solution delivered significant energy-efficiency improvements and contributed to lower operating energy consumption across the trial sites. Following these positive results, the deployment was expanded across the Western Cape region in Q2 2026.
EnergyTurbo applies network AI to understand traffic patterns, site energy policies, and real-time service demand. Instead of relying on fixed rules, the solution predicts traffic changes and makes site-specific decisions in a closed loop. This enables base stations to save energy during low-load periods while protecting service quality when demand rises.
Following the successful commercial trial in Cape Town, the solution was scaled across the Western Cape during Q2 2026. The rollout was delivered in collaboration with regional teams and the OEM partner, marking a significant milestone in MTN South Africa’s journey to operationalise AI-driven network innovation. The deployment demonstrates the ability to translate advanced technology into measurable business, network efficiency, and sustainability outcomes.
“This commercial validation highlights the practical value of AI in making networks more efficient and sustainable. Together with MTN South Africa, we are bringing AI-native innovation into live networks to support greener digital growth.”
– Luca Shen, CEO, ZTE South Africa
Speaking from the technology strategy perspective, Ernest Paul, Acting CTO of MTN South Africa emphasized that AI can help networks make smarter decisions in real time, and that by aligning energy consumption with traffic demand, the solution enables greater efficiency while maintaining a consistent customer experience and supporting more sustainable network operations.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in telecom networks, MTN and ZTE will continue to explore innovations that improve efficiency, enhance user experience, and reduce environmental impact. The Western Cape deployment marks a further step in moving AI-native network capabilities from commercial validation to scaled operational value.
