MTN Group and Huawei have jointly inaugurated the Technology Innovation Lab in South Africa, marking the fruition of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) penned at MWC 2024 earlier this year.
The collaboration seeks to expedite the delivery of MTN’s products and services to market while enhancing rural network coverage, energy efficiency, and affordability.
This state-of-the-art innovation hub will spearhead research and development initiatives across various domains, including 5G and 5G-A technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, cloud computing, FTTH, automation, and digital finance.
By fostering cross-regional collaboration, the lab endeavours to invigorate the African digital landscape, catalysing the development, deployment, and adoption of innovative solutions.
Additionally, the lab will serve as a nucleus for experimentation, demonstration, and skill enhancement, boasting cutting-edge facilities and resources to support pioneering research endeavours.
Integral to MTN’s evolution from a traditional telecommunications entity to a comprehensive technology service provider, the lab underscores a commitment to addressing real-world challenges in tandem with operational teams’ active involvement in the innovation process.
Ralph Mupita, President and CEO of MTN Group, underscored the lab’s significance, emphasising a focus on indigenous solutions tailored for Africa.
Cao Ming, President of Huawei’s Wireless Solution, articulated a commitment to collaborative innovation aimed at delivering leading-edge products and solutions to the African market while exploring novel business models to propel industry advancement.
Furthermore, MTN South Africa’s digital skills hub, established in December 2023, complements these efforts by addressing unemployment through skills training, job creation, and expanded employment opportunities.
Moreover, MTN’s collaboration with Omnispace in March 2024 to enhance mobile network connectivity on the continent highlights a continued commitment to advancing 5G initiatives.
However, the partnership with Huawei signifies a strategic pivot towards the development and deployment of comprehensive 5G solutions alongside other technological advancements.
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