MTN Group and Huawei unite forces in groundbreaking tech lab pact

By Mohammed AWAL, Barcelona, Spain

MTN Group and Huawei have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Joint Innovation Technology Lab, with the goal of strengthening collaboration in technological innovation.

The signing ceremony took place at MWC Barcelona, Spain, and was attended by senior delegations from both MTN and Huawei.

The partnership will see the creation of an Innovation Technology Lab at MTN Group’s headquarters in South Africa which will serve as a neutral platform for collaboration within Africa’s digital ecosystem, accelerating the development, deployment and adoption of innovative digital solutions driven across the continent.

“The Joint Innovation Technology Lab is more than a partnership between two companies; it’s an investment in the growth of Africa’s digital ecosystem. We believe that collaboration is essential for developing solutions that truly meet the continent’s needs, and this Lab will pave the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future for Africa,” MTN Group Chief Technology and Information Officer Mazen Mroué, said.

MOU crucial to leveraging 5G and beyond

The MOU, according to Mroué, will expedite research and development efforts on key areas such as 5G and beyond, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cloud computing, and digital financial services.

The partnership will further accelerate the time-to-market of MTN’s products and services while addressing the unique challenges faced in Africa, including improving network coverage in rural areas, enhancing energy efficiency, and affordability.

Additionally, MTN’s operational teams will actively participate in the innovation process, ensuring the solutions developed directly address real-world challenges and drive meaningful digital transformation and sustainable development in Africa.

“Huawei will continue innovating with MTN to ensure they have the products and solutions required to best serve Africa’s unique market. This will not only give MTN a competitive edge in terms of network quality, user experience, and rapid deployment, but also help MTN achieve their own business objectives. We believe that this newly-established lab will help supercharge both MTN’s R&D as well as Africa’s digital economy, bringing more prosperity to the African continent,” Li Peng, Huawei’s Corporate Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Service, said.

For him, this partnership further is a demonstration of MTN and Huawei’s shared commitment to shaping Africa’s digital landscape, opening new pathways for innovation and digital inclusion, and economic growth.

With the 2024 commercial launch of 5.5G, Huawei is collaborating with operators and partners around the world to pursue exciting new innovation in networks, cloud, and intelligence. Together, they hope to drive 5G business and foster a thriving industry ecosystem, creating a new era for intelligent digital transformation.

MWC Barcelona 2024 was held from February 26 to February 29 in Barcelona, Spain.

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