MTN Group and
Huawei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a Joint Innovation
Technology Lab, aiming to deepen cooperation in technological innovation. The
signing ceremony, which held at MWC Barcelona, Spain was attended by senior
delegations from MTN and Huawei.
In a statement released on Wednesday,
it noted that the partnership will see the creation of an Innovation Technology
Lab at MTN Group’s headquarters in South Africa, where it will serve as a
neutral platform for collaboration within the Africa’s digital ecosystem,
accelerating the development, deployment and adoption of innovative digital
solutions driven across the continent.
“Together,
the two companies will leverage this initiative to focus their 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 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, enhancing energy efficiency,
and affordability,” the statement said.
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.
Group Chief Technology and Information Officer Mazen Mroue expressed
his enthusiasm about the partnership stating, “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.”
Li Peng, Huawei’s Corporate Senior Vice President and President of ICT
Sales & Service, 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 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.”
This partnership further demonstrates
MTN and Huawei’s shared commitment to shaping Africa’s digital landscape,
opening new pathways for innovation and digital inclusion, and economic growth.
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye