This paper presents an OpenBTS implementation case study in rural Zambia. The work focused on applied research and development of a cost effective telecommunication system to provide mobile communications in a rural village. The system aimed to test appropriate technologies involving limited hardware needs, incurring low capital expenditure, and with limit operational costs. The practical experience revealed that nontechnical aspects like logistics of equipment availability, internet bandwidth constraints, and interaction with the frequency regulator are the main implementation constraints.