Rabat – Chinese tech giant Huawei has organized Africa’s first-ever IP GALA in Marrakech, a testament to its commitment to driving technological advancements in the continent and solidifying its position as a catalyst for digital transformation in the region.
The company organized the event last week in collaboration with prominent partners, including the IPv6 Forum, African Telecommunication Union (ATU), and Arab Information and Communication Technology Organization (AICTO), among other players in the internet industry.
Themed “Intelligent IP Network, Boost New Growth,” the event convened government regulatory bodies, operators, industry organizations, and consulting agencies to deliberate on the future of the Internet in the Arab Africa region, said Huawei in a press release.
The IP GALA served as a platform to explore key topics, including global IP industry trends, successful IP service practices, and the evolution and innovation of IP technology. In addition, it aimed to assist operators in achieving overall business growth, advancing regional IPv6 industry upgrades, and unleashing the continent’s digital productivity.
A significant outcome of the conference was the joint release of the Arab and Africa IPv6 Development White Paper by the IPv6 Forum, AICTO, ATU, and Huawei, which provides crucial guidance on IPv6 technology evolution and industry development in the Arab-African region.
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The white paper also “highlights that IPv6 is an inevitable trend for the next-generation Internet, as well as an ideal choice for deploying 5G transport networks and developing 5G services,” added the statement.
the joint release of the Arab and Africa IPv6 Development White Paper
In addition, the event witnessed the announcement of Tunisie Telecom and Hatif Libya, among other regional operators, as members of the IPv6 Enhanced Council (IPE). “This further expands the IPv6 Enhanced camp in Africa, facilitating regional IPv6 development,” according to Huawei.
During his opening speech, Steven Zhao, Vice President of Huawei Data Communication Product Line, underlined the need for the next-generation IP transport network to deliver not only higher bandwidth but also “intelligent connections, differentiated service-level agreements (SLAs), and energy conservation for multi-service transmission.”
For his part, the Executive Director of Networks Development at Tunisie Telecom, Oussama Samet, highlighted the crucial role that IPv6 Enhanced plays in the 5G and cloud era, citing the successful establishment of a 5G-ready IPv6 transport network based on SRv6 by Tunisie Telecom. This upgrade allowed for the enhancement of IP private lines and offered a differentiated user experience.
Meanwhile, Feng Su, Vice President of Huawei Network Marketing & Solution Sales Department, stressed the importance of building converged IP transport networks with “large capacity, high reliability, and guaranteed SLAs” to enable the high-quality development of 5G FWA and 5G ToB services.
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Su noted that 2023 marks the inaugural year for 5G in North Africa, making the collaboration between Huawei and regional operators key in ensuring the seamless introduction of these technologies.
Reiterating Huawei’s commitment to advancing IP technology in the continent, Vice President of Huawei Northern Africa Carrier Business Department, Chris Meng, said that the company is dedicated to its vision of “In Africa, for Africa.”
Vice President of Huawei Northern Africa Carrier Business Department Chris Meng speaking at the event
He explained that the company is keen to “closely cooperate with regional ICT industry players to advance IP technology towards 5G readiness, drive new business growth for operators, and accelerate the release of Africa’s digital economic potential,” added the statement.
Highlighting its position as a global leader in data communications technology, Huawei reiterated its keenness to support Africa’s 5G and digital transformation journey by providing cutting-edge technologies.
As Africa enters the 5G era, the company promises to deploy its pioneering efforts in IP network development to reshape the Internet landscape, as well as pave the way for enhanced connectivity and technological innovation throughout the region.
