Huawei broadens Africa digitization

Chinese tech giant expands training, opens laboratory, as part of 5G drive

Chinese technology giant Huawei continues to deepen its collaborations across Africa with various programs aimed at promoting digitization across the continent.

In Kenya, the Information Communication and Technology Authority and Huawei completed the latest online training for civil servants on Nov 3 to bring them the latest trends on information and communication technologies, e-government, smart cities, the internet of things, and cybersecurity.

The Kenya ICT Authority said more than 400 civil servants registered for the first phase of the training over five days that was jointly organized by the ICT Authority and Huawei. The second and third phases of the training are being planned.

The exercise is part of an ongoing effort by the Kenya ICT Authority in capacity building for Kenyan government employees. The program is expected to ensure the implementation of ICT standards and secure ICT infrastructure and systems.

Katherine Getao, the chief executive of the Kenya ICT Authority, said Huawei experts have trained and certified lecturers from 30 universities and training centers in Kenya through the ICT Academy program.

Getao said the local lecturers are training and collaborating with the government, academia and the private sector.

“The civil servant training is one aspect of a multipronged capacitybuilding partnership between Huawei and the Kenya ICT Authority that also includes training Kenyan youth,” Getao said.

“The ICT Authority of Kenya appreciates our partners who support our ICT capacity-building mandate by offering appropriate and cost-effective training programs to our stakeholders. A successful digital economy is founded on a culture of continuous learning.”

In South Africa, Huawei, Rain and Wits University have jointly launched

Africa’s first 5G laboratory which gives students access to a live 5G environment to build knowledge of the revolutionary technology’s applications for the local market.

The 5G Innovation Lab is part of a longer term joint innovation program between businesses and the leading academic institution. It is aimed at driving social progress for South Africa in the digital era or fourth industrial revolution.

Yang Chen, Huawei’s Southern Africa region vice-president, said the company has committed to providing its end-to-end 5G solution to the South African government.

“We are very encouraged by the efforts of Huawei, Rain and Wits to establish academic research and development capabilities. This is very important as we move into the digital economy. Huawei also runs various cutting-edge ICT programs at several South African universities and colleges and this gives our youth a foothold into the fast-changing technology space,” Yang said.

“We are immensely proud to be part of rolling out this capacity in South Africa, to give students and academics a place to innovate and turn their ideas into reality. We look forward to groundbreaking 5G applications coming out of Wits.”

Adam Habib, Wits University vicechancellor, said he has high expectations for the partnership.