In recent years, Huawei has taken a fundamental role in the digitalization process taking place on the African continent. Africa, often referred to as the "last frontier" in global digital connectivity, has seen significant strides in its digital transformation over the last decade. A transformation embodied at the heart of technological prowess through strategic investments is Huawei, a Chinese telecommunications giant. Huawei's role in Africa's digital space has attracted much debate, with some acclaiming the company for its positive contribution to connectivity and others castigating it for possible geopolitical implications. This piece draws into an analysis of the multifaceted role that Huawei has played in the digital transformation of Africa, undergirded by authentic data and references.

The Context of Africa's Digital Landscape

Africa's digital landscape has been characterized by limited connectivity, high costs, and significant divides between urban and rural areas. "According to ITU, in 2019, only 28.2% of Africa's population accessed the internet compared to the world's average of 53.6%. This indicated a huge disparity in growth and indeed a call for rapid infrastructure development if the division was to be stemmed for economic growth to flourish.

Huawei's Entry into Africa

Huawei's entry into Africa began in the late 1990s with projects in Egypt and South Africa. Over the years, Huawei expanded its footprints in the rest of the continent by collaborating with governments, telecom operators, and stakeholders. In 2020, the company had a presence in over 40 African countries, thereby greatly contributing to digital infrastructure development in the region.

Infrastructure Development and Connectivity

One of the biggest contributions Huawei has made toward digitally transforming Africa is regarding infrastructure development and upgrading of telecommunications services. Most African countries prefer Huawei due to its advanced technology and competitive pricing. This involvement is varied, spanning mobile networks, broadband, and data centers.

Mobile Networks

Huawei has been quite instrumental in the proliferation of 3G, 4G, and now 5G networks across Africa. According to the GSMA, there will be 678 million unique mobile subscribers in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2025, and 4G connections will comprise 27% of total mobile connections. A technological leader, Huawei has made it possible by providing infrastructure that undergirds high-speed mobile internet. For example, in Kenya, the company partnered with Safaricom to introduce the first 5G network in the country. This will revolutionize internet speeds, and service delivery in areas such as health and education, and economic activities. In South Africa, through a partnership between Huawei, MTN, and Vodacom, the launch of 5G services has been accelerated, improving the digitization capabilities of the country.

Broadband and Fiber Optics

In addition to mobile networks, Huawei has played a crucial role in connecting broadband through the fiber optic approach. For instance, involvement in projects such as the National Broadband Network in Nigeria and the East Africa Submarine System (EASSy) linked high-capacity bandwidth to eight East African countries with more dependable internet connectivity, speeding this up considerably and reducing costs. In addition, investment in data centers and cloud services by Huawei has further augmented the digital infrastructure of Africa. In 2018, Huawei opened its first data center in South Africa, followed by other two centers in Kenya and Nigeria. This makes provision for big data and artificial intelligence available to the respective applications done by local businesses and governments. Huawei has made efforts to bridge this gap. The company has embarked on a few projects to enable remote and less served areas to achieve better connections.

RuralStar Program

One of the most notable programs from Huawei is the RuralStar program, which aims to provide affordable and sustainable mobile network coverage in rural areas. Through the use of more advanced solutions like solar-powered base stations and new, cost-effective infrastructures, RuralStar has given access to millions of remote Africans. According to Huawei, the initiative has reached out to over 40 million rural people in 20 countries across the African continent.

Digital Skills and Education

Besides the development of infrastructure, digital skills and training have not been left out in terms of investment by Huawei. The program Seeds for the Future has created study and practical experience in information and communication technology for thousands of African students since it was launched in 2008. The objective of the initiative is to develop local talent toward creating a pool of skilled personnel who will help power Africa's digital economy.

Supporting Local Innovation

Huawei is supportive of start-ups and SMEs, towards an end that supports local innovations and more. For example, it promotes the Huawei Cloud Developer Contest to encourage African developers to innovate and develop applications that run on Huawei's cloud platform. It has spurred the creation of many solutions targeting different local challenges, from health to agriculture, fintech, and education.

Economic Impact

There is no overstatement of Huawei's engagement in Africa on the economic repercussions, mostly through investment in infrastructure and technology, on such a breath-taking digital transformation level of dividends. Many people have been absorbed into the employment mainstreams opened up by its operations in Africa. For example, a report by Oxford Economics demonstrated that in 2019, Huawei activities in Sub-Saharan Africa helped to sustain more than 200,000 jobs and drive the livelihoods of millions of people. These jobs cut across different sectors such as engineering, sales, and technical support, and they have so offered value addition with income and skills development to the local communities. The advent of better connectivity has translated to heightened productivity and easy access to digital technologies. For example, Huawei technology is used in agriculture to allow farmers to monitor crop conditions, optimize irrigation, and improve productivity with the use of IoT devices and data analytics. Equally so, telemedicine solutions and digital health platforms are reshaping healthcare in the way of enabling virtual consultations that ease the burden on stretched healthcare systems.

Digital Financial Services

In addition, the augmented mobile network and broadband connectivity have opened ways for digital financial service uptake within Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is the fastest-growing region in mobile money services, with over 548 million registered accounts in 2020, according to GSMA. This record infrastructure by Huawei has been instrumental in this expansion and opening up millions of people across Sub-Saharan Africa to access banking, payments, and further financial services on their phones.

Geopolitical Implications

Although the potential of Huawei's contributions to Africa's digital transformation is enormous, its ambitions in and on the continent have raised fears of geopolitical implications. Critics often raise the issue that such a close relationship with the Chinese government brings forth questions of cybersecurity, data privacy, and national sovereignty.

Balance Relations

African countries must adopt a balanced and strategic approach in their international relations to harness global technological advancements while safeguarding their sovereignty and long-term interests. Here are some practical recommendations:

1. Diversify Technological Partnerships - While Huawei’s role in Africa’s digital transformation is significant, African governments must diversify their technology partnerships. Engaging with a range of international technology providers—including those from the US, EU, and other regions—can help mitigate risks associated with over-reliance on a single company and foster a competitive environment that benefits the continent.

2. Strengthen Regional Collaboration - African nations should collaborate within regional frameworks like the African Union (AU) or Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to create unified strategies for technology adoption and digital infrastructure development. Regional cooperation can enhance bargaining power, reduce costs, and ensure more consistent technological standards across the continent.

3. Develop Local Innovation Ecosystems - Investing in local tech startups and innovation hubs can help build indigenous capacity and reduce dependency on foreign technology. Governments can support these initiatives through grants, tax incentives, and infrastructure development to encourage homegrown solutions that address local needs.

4. Establish Clear Regulatory Frameworks - Implementing robust data protection and cybersecurity regulations is essential for managing the risks associated with foreign technology providers. Clear regulatory frameworks will help protect national security, user privacy, and ensure that foreign companies adhere to local standards and practices.

5. Promote Skill Development - To fully leverage new technologies, African countries should focus on education and skills development in digital fields. By investing in STEM education and vocational training, governments can build a skilled workforce capable of managing and innovating within the evolving digital landscape.

6. Monitor Geopolitical Implications - Governments should stay informed about the geopolitical dimensions of their technology partnerships. This includes understanding the strategic interests of different global powers and how these interests may influence technological investments and infrastructure projects on the continent.

7. Foster Public-Private Partnerships - Engaging with both international and local private sector players in public-private partnerships can enhance infrastructure development and innovation. Such collaborations can pool resources, share risks, and ensure that technological advancements are aligned with national development goals.

By implementing these strategies, African countries can better navigate the complexities of global technological investments and drive sustainable and inclusive digital transformation across the continent.

The role of Huawei in Africa's digital transformation is a testament to the company's technological might and strategic vision. Huawei contributes massively through infrastructure development, closing the digital divide and local innovation support with its contribution to the continent's connectivity and economic growth. More importantly, Africa stands to benefit from the geopolitical underpinnings involved in rising to the occasion of hosting Huawei on the continent, which can only be such if the correct measures are undertaken concerning technological partnerships.

The lessons drawn from Huawei's experience are invaluable as Africa strides into a future of connected digital ecosystems. African states could lead their countries along the path to sustainable and inclusive digital transformation by grasping available opportunities of new high technologies while also mitigating existing risks.

Manahil Khan is a graduate of International Affairs and her interest lies in foreign policy, national security and geopolitics. She has worked with National Assembly of Pakistan and is currently working as a freelance writer.