Zong and ZTE Achieve First AI-based FDD Massive MIMO Commercial Deployment in Pakistan

• Zong and ZTE have announced the first commercial launch of AI-based multi-beam FDD Massive MIMO in Pakistan
• Results from Zong's commercial launch revealed significant performance enhancements, including a traffic loading increase of 17.1%, a user experience improvement of 39.4% in busy hour

Islamabad, Pakistan, February 28, 2026 - ZTE Corporation (0763.HK /000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, and Zong, Pakistan's No.1 data network, today announced AI-based automatic beam adaptation to enable five beams of FDD Massive MIMO in Pakistan.

ZTE is committed to the innovative AIR RAN (AI Reshaped RAN) solution, by introducing the AIREngine board, the FDD Massive MIMO will switch to multi-beams(max up to six beams) automatically based on the traffic loading and achieve efficient resource allocation. It aims to further boost cell capacity and optimize user experiences.  

In the initial commercial launch conducted by Zong and ZTE, five beams were enabled and there was a significant performance boost, with an average user downlink throughput improving by up to 39.4% in busy hour and 34.3% in daily, the traffic loading increasing by up to 17.1% in busy hour and 21.5% on a daily basis.

Zong and ZTE will continue to drive sustained innovation, accelerating the integration of AIR RAN solution into live networks to enhance spectral and energy efficiency, streamline network operations while delivering a premium user experience. Building on this commercial launch, the companies will expand trials across diverse high loading and high value scenarios, refine multi-beam scheduling with real traffic data, and strengthen end-to-end optimization. These efforts aim to translate AI-based innovation into measurable, repeatable gains for both consumers and industry customers across Pakistan.