Huawei Executives Illuminate Africa's Digital Frontier at GITEX 2024
In the bustling city of Marrakech, Morocco, the recent GITEX Africa 2024 conference showcased Huawei's North Africa division, painting a vivid picture of the continent's digital transformation journey. High-ranking executives from the tech giant graced the event, engaging in insightful roundtable discussions that unveiled the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Leading these conversations were Colin Hu, President of Enterprise and Cloud Business; Mounir Soussi, VP Cloud of HNA (NWCA); and Youssef Boukary, CTO of Networking Solutions, all representing Huawei North Africa. Their dialogue highlighted the pivotal role of technology in sectors such as education, healthcare, mining, and agriculture.
Connectivity emerged as a central theme, with Youssef Boukary emphasizing its critical importance in driving digital transformation. "In our region, the major challenge is connectivity. We cannot succeed in any digital transformation without good, reliable connectivity," he asserted. Huawei's "Accelerate Intelligence for New Africa" initiative has been instrumental in bridging the digital divide, establishing robust infrastructure that has facilitated connectivity for over 360 million people in North Africa.
Projects like RuralStar have bridged the connectivity gap, bringing internet access to 11 million individuals across 3,500 villages, addressing the low internet penetration that had long plagued rural communities. Hu highlighted Africa's unique opportunities for innovation, citing mobile payment systems that have flourished in Mauritania.
"It is said that Africa is lagging behind, but this also represents an opportunity," Hu remarked. "For example, while in Europe, credit cards are mainly used, in Mauritania, everyone uses mobile payment. In advanced countries, it is necessary to adapt existing models, while in Africa, there is a significant opportunity to leapfrog and directly adopt cutting-edge technologies."
Education emerged as a focal point, with Hu underscoring the transformative power of digital solutions in improving access to education for Africa's youth. Huawei North Africa has forged partnerships with governments to offer virtual universities and e-education solutions, addressing the low enrollment rates in higher education that have long stifled the continent's potential.
Beyond education, the executives delved into the diverse applications of technology across industries. In the healthcare sector, Boukary emphasized the need for tailored solutions to address unique challenges, advocating for an inclusive approach to digitalization.
Cloud computing emerged as a key enabler of this transformative journey, with Huawei outlining its "One Network, One Cloud" strategy. Hu underscored the importance of localized cloud infrastructure, stating, "The cloud should be in every country, and data should be hosted locally." The inauguration of a public cloud in Egypt marks a significant milestone in Huawei's efforts to expand cloud infrastructure across Africa, paving the way for enhanced data management and storage capabilities.
Innovations in the energy sector were also discussed, with a focus on leveraging renewable resources to provide affordable electricity. Hu highlighted the role of digitalization in optimizing energy efficiency, asserting that "digitalization can bring cheaper and more affordable energy to populations."
Mounir Soussi emphasized the potential of artificial intelligence in driving industry transformation, particularly in areas such as pipeline monitoring and maintenance.
As the curtain fell on GITEX Africa 2024, Huawei's North Africa division emerged as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path towards a digitally empowered future for the continent. Their insights and initiatives underscore a commitment to harnessing technology's transformative power, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for growth, innovation, and prosperity across Africa's diverse landscapes.