Networking solutions company Huawei's new local research and development centre aims to assist in positioning SA's telecommunications technology innovation on par with global trends.
The China-based company has more than 20 research and development centres globally. The latest one, in Woodmead, north of Johannesburg, was opened on Friday.
Christine Jiang, chief sales officer of Huawei Technologies Africa, says the centre will be fully functional at the beginning of next year.
She adds that the centre will focus on those customers that have bought its hardware and the requirements of other telecoms operators. The centre will help carriers to work out budgets, life cycles and other aspects of planning around infrastructure, Jiang adds.
“The African region is one of Huawei's most important overseas areas of focus.”
The company has been targeting the continent for more than a decade, she notes. As a result, it has been able to introduce technologies such as 3G into Africa, and has partnered with companies such as Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, Neotel, Zain and Orange.
Faster deployment
Jiang explains that the centre “helps us to respond to customers faster”. She says it allows software to be customised to fit the telecommunications company's needs, without having to route the request back to China.
The centre will also help Huawei improve its design and efficiency of the software that is bundled with the network equipment, she points out.
Construction of the new centre started in mid-year and it was opened on Friday, at an event attended by communications minister Siphiwe Nyanda, who called the facility an important milestone in SA's telecoms history.
Huawei provides next-generation telecommunications network solutions for operators around the world. The company 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 SA and its neighbouring countries.
The new facility will allow Huawei to import global telecoms technology innovations to SA.
“Our research and development centres are the engine of our business,” says Huawei SA CEO Paul Wu. “We're looking forward to bringing our international expertise to pioneer local, customised solutions to South Africa's telecommunications industry.”
Last year, Huawei formed a local training centre, which has already trained 300 people from Vodacom, MTN, Telkom and Cell C.
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