At the MWC Barcelona in Spain, MTN Group and Huawei Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Joint Innovation Technology Lab, aiming to deepen cooperation in technological innovation.
This strategic partnership will see the creation of an innovation technology lab at MTN Group’s headquarters in South Africa. The lab 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 Africa.
The two companies will leverage this initiative to focus their research and development efforts on key areas such as 5G and beyond, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data analytics, cloud computing, and digital financial services. The partnership aims to 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 and 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.
MTN Group Chief Technology and Information Officer; Mazen Mroue expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership. “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,” he said. “We believe that collaboration is essential for developing solutions that truly meet Africa’s needs, and this Lab will pave the way for a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous future for Africa.”
Li Peng, Huawei’s Corporate Senior Vice President and President of ICT Sales & Services, said 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 business objectives,” said Peng. “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.”
This partnership further demonstrates MTN and Huawei’s shared commitment to shaping Africa’s digital landscape, opening new pathways for innovation, digital inclusion, and economic growth.
MWC Barcelona 2024 started on February 26 and will end on February 29. At the event, Huawei Technologies has taken the opportunity to showcase its latest products and solutions.
With the 2024 commercial launch of 5.5G, Huawei is collaborating with operators and partners around the world to pursue exciting new innovations in networks, cloud, and intelligence. Together, we will drive 5G business and foster a thriving industry ecosystem, creating a new era for intelligent digital transformation.
