In telecom networks, the base station is the nerve-centre of radio access. For many operators today, legacy kit from Huawei remains a significant portion of their infrastructure. This article covers how Huawei’s BTS (Base Transceiver Station) equipment is architected, the key components, evolution from 2G/3G to LTE/5G, and crucially how lifecycle services—such as equipment repair, parts supply and asset management—can maximise value from these investments. For organisations like Carritech, which specialise in extending the life of network equipment, understanding this equipment deeply is critical to delivering value.

What is Huawei BTS Equipment?

A BTS (Base Transceiver Station) from Huawei is the radio site equipment that supports mobile access technology (2G, 3G, 4G and in many cases migration towards 5G). For example the BTS3900 series consists of a base-band unit (BBU3900), remote radio units, and indoor cabinet components.

Huawei’s BTS offering is built on its SingleRAN architecture which allows multi-mode support (GSM, UMTS, LTE) on a single hardware platform.

Key Components

• Baseband Unit (BBU): Central processing unit for the site, handles digital signal processing, resource management.
• Remote Radio Unit (RRU) / MR FU: Located near the antenna, handles RF amplification, up-conversion etc. The BBU connects via digital interface (e.g., CPRI) to the RRU.
• Indoor cabinet / Macro cabinet / Power systems: Houses BBU and support systems (power backup, cooling, transmission interfaces).

Why Operators Have Many Huawei BTS Sites

There are several reasons operators may still have large installed bases of Huawei BTS equipment:

• Cost-effectiveness: Huawei historically achieved competitive pricing and strong performance, making it an attractive vendor.
• Multi-mode flexibility (SingleRAN): Ability to support legacy 2G/3G and migrate to 4G on same hardware platform reduces CAPEX/complexity.
• Global deployment scale: Extensive global footprint means parts, expertise and field knowledge are available.
• Lifecycle span: Many BTS sites are expected to run for 10-15 years or more, so legacy equipment remains relevant.

Challenges with Legacy Huawei BTS Equipment

While Huawei BTS gear offers benefits, there are challenges operators and support/service providers must manage.

Obsolescence & End of Life

As networks evolve toward 5G and beyond, older modules may reach end-of-life status (no new spares, firmware updates discontinued). For example the BTS3900 page notes ageing series.

Spare Parts & Supply Chain

Sourcing high-quality spare parts becomes more difficult with legacy modules. Service providers like Carritech can fill this gap by supplying hard-to-find boards, pre-tested modules, and offering refurbished inventory.

Migrating to New Technologies

Even though SingleRAN helps, migrating from 2G/3G to LTE/5G still requires planning: site re-configuration, RF redesign, antenna upgrades, and may involve replacing or re-purposing older hardware.

Regulatory & Security Considerations

In certain geographies, equipment from specific vendors faces regulatory restrictions or security review obligations. These must be managed carefully when maintaining or extending equipment life.

How Lifecycle Services Extend Value from Huawei BTS Equipment

Here’s where Carritech’s expertise aligns with operator needs.

Repair and Refurbishment

Repairing existing BTS modules (BBU boards, power units, RRUs) reduces cost compared to full replacements. Carritech’s Level 3 technical support enables deep troubleshooting of Huawei BTS modules and restores equipment to certified working condition.

Hard-to-Find Parts Supply

Legacy BTS inventories may require rare boards or older firmware versions. Carritech can source components globally, test them, and provide warranty-backed parts, enabling operators to keep sites running without upgrading prematurely.

Asset Management & Revenue Share

Operators may have decommissioned Huawei BTS sites or spare modules lying idle. Carritech can offer asset management services: resale opportunities via revenue-share, or scrapping facilities when reuse is no longer viable — supporting sustainable lifecycle and circular economy goals.

Migration Planning and Site Rationalisation

When operators eventually migrate away from older BTS to newer architectures (e.g., cloud-RAN, ORAN), Carritech can help plan the transition, assess residual value of existing BTS assets, reuse modules elsewhere, and manage decommissioning in an environmentally responsible way.

Best Practice Recommendations for Operators Managing Huawei BTS Fleets

• Inventory and lifecycle mapping: Maintain a detailed database of all Huawei BTS sites, module types, firmware versions, support status, and expected end-of-life dates.
• Spare parts strategy: Establish a “legacy kit” spare pool for older BTS series, leveraging refurbished modules to reduce cost and avoid downtime.
• Firmware and software health check: Ensure BBU & RRU firmware remains supported and secure; older versions may lack enhancements or pose security risks.
• Proactive obsolescence planning: Identify sites where full replacement may be needed, and begin budgeting ahead of forced migration or vendor support cessation.
• Lifecycle disposal and reuse: For decommissioned sites, re-purpose modules in less critical roles or responsibly recycle and recover value rather than discard.
• Partner with specialist service providers: Engaging experts like Carritech can reduce risk, cost and downtime by combining parts supply, repair knowledge and asset lifecycle management.

Huawei’s BTS equipment remains a backbone of many mobile networks globally, thanks to its robust design, multi-mode flexibility and cost-effective deployment. Yet, as networks evolve and support windows close, operators face increasing pressure to manage legacy fleets smartly. That’s where lifecycle services—repair, parts supply, asset management and strategic migration planning—become crucial. For an organisation like Carritech, specialising in those services presents a strong opportunity to help operators extract maximum value from their Huawei BTS assets while aligning with sustainable reuse principles.