AFRICA’S biggest wireless carrier, MTN Group, has opened a research lab with Huawei Technologies in Johannesburg, deepening ties with the Chinese company and potentially accelerating the roll out of new technologies on the continent.
The facility’s ten employees will focus on applications for artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud computing, fintech and other technologies, MTN’s chief technology and innovation officer Mazen Mroue said in an interview.
“Before we start deploying the new tech in one of our markets, we are able to test the efficiency and value of it in our own lab,” Mroue said. “Usually the tests would be done in a vendor’s lab, and you will have to go with their outcome – but with our latest initiative, we can test all technologies ourselves, with whichever vendors, European or non-European.” – © 2024 Bloomberg