Huawei,a leader in providing next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world, recently announced the establishment of its first telecoms Research and Development (R&D) centre in South Africa.  This new development seeks to assist in positioning South Africa’s telecoms technology innovation drive to be at par with the global trends. Huawei will collaborate with mobile and fixed line operators as well as third parties to generate marketing analysis, and ensure service innovation and solution design, to address crucial telecoms challenges in South Africa and its neighbouring countries. Huawei’s customer-centric approach is the motivation to continuously create an environment where innovation and development is encouraged.  Presently, over 43 per cent of the company’s 87 502 component is engaged in R&D.

“The establishment of the first telecommunications Research and Development facility in South Africa marks an important milestone to the rapid advancement of the telecommunications technology in this country”, said Gen Sphiwe Nyanda, South Africa’s minister of Communications.

Through this new facility, Huawei will import global telecommunications technology innovations to South Africa and further engage with its global experts to meet the requirements of the country’s telecoms market and thus discover a new way of rendering services to local operators.

“Our Research and Development Centres are the engine of our business. We’re looking forward to bringing our international expertise to pioneer local, customised solutions to South Africa’s telecommunications industry.  The formation of our Training Centre in 2008 is testimony to Huawei’s commitment to providing our clients with in-depth and comprehensive training in the latest technology.  We regard the establishment of Research and Development Centre as a continuation of this growth, and keenly anticipate servicing South Africa’s vibrant and growing telecommunications sector”, said Paul Wu, CEO, Huawei South Africa.
 
Huawei’s R&D facilities are present in various locations worldwide, namely - the U.S. (Silicon Valley and Dallas), Russia (Moscow), Sweden (Stockholm), Nigeria (Lagos), India (Bangalore) and China (Beijing, Shanghai Nanjing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Chengdu). South Africa’s R&D centre is the 16th globally and the second on the continent following another launch in Nigeria recently.

South Africa is widely acknowledged as the African continent’s telecommunications hub, and with the establishment of Huawei’s R&D centre, this position is sure to be strengthened. Since its establishment in 2008, the Huawei SA Training Centre has already trained 300 people from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C.  There is no doubt that the R&D Centre will continue on this encouraging path, and play a critical role in ensuring that South Africa’s vibrant telecommunications industry reaches world-class standards.

Among the key benefits set to be derived from the R&D Centre include clear lines of communication between the operators and Huawei team at the headquarters. The R&D Centre will also comprise a local Requirement Management Team to speed up the requirement process, as the local development team is ideally placed to rapidly deliver customized software. The collection of requirements from operators, and provision of marketing analysis will become a streamlined process. The R&D Centre is also a development tool, helping local operators to accelerate their employment opportunities, and creating employment opportunities for qualified individuals.  Additionally, the Centre will produce outstanding technical personnel and professionals.

The launch in South Africa comes hot on the heels of a media tour by African journalists to Huawei’s R&D centre in Shanghai and its headquarters in Shenzhen, China. The senior journalists were drawn from reputable media houses in South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana and Nigeria.