Page 108 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2025

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

While praising the MEA ZTE, he said, has already begun preparing smartphones, MiFi devices, education
for this future with its self-developed
tablets, and cloud PCs. ZTE has also
region’s rapid progress— chipsets and its AI platform, Nebula. These introduced rural site solutions powered by
particularly in 5G pene- technologies are designed to support the solar energy, with capital expenditure under
tration, fixed broadband, convergence of connectivity and intelligent $10,000 and zero operating cost—making
computing in the MEA region.
them ideal for underserved communities.
and data center infrastruc- By partnering with China’s clean energy
ture—Chen also empha- From Connectivity to a Digital Society providers and global cloud platforms, ZTE
is aiming to accelerate Africa’s digital
ZTE’s regional strategy, Chen noted, is
sized that, despite the not limited to infrastructure deployment. transformation in a cost-effective and
region’s rapid infrastruc- The company advocates for a holistic sustainable manner.
ture development, key effi- expansion—from digital industry to digital Enabling, Not Just Delivering
life and society. This includes broadening
ciency challenges remain. service coverage from the ground to low Chen emphasized that ZTE’s goal in MEA
Network utilization shows and high altitudes, even into space, and
extending digital services beyond humans
room for further optimi- to machines, vehicles, and embedded In areas such as e-govern-
zation, and the average systems. ment, smart cities, logis-
power usage effective- In areas such as e-government, smart cities, tics, and digital finance,
ness (PUE) in data centers logistics, and digital finance, Chen cited Chen cited China’s prog-

currently ranges between China’s progress—driven by companies like ress—driven by compa-
ZTE—as evidence of what’s possible in the
1.3 and 1.5. pre-6G era. These solutions, he suggested, nies like ZTE—as evidence
can be localized to meet MEA’s specific of what’s possible in the
He cited Saudi Arabia as a case in point: needs.
while the digital economy contributes over pre-6G era.
11% to GDP, it still trails the national target Africa: Tackling the Digital Divide
of 16%. Chen warned that such gaps could Chen devoted a significant portion of his goes beyond supplying equipment—it
hinder ROI on digital infrastructure unless speech to Africa, where connectivity gaps aims to become a regional integrator and
addressed through innovation, operational remain severe. Internet penetration stands enabler. With a strategic focus on “leading
upgrades, and AI integration. at just 38%, and data center capacity in network connectivity and intelligent
is under 5%, with two-thirds located in computing,” ZTE aims to support telecom
AI: The Soul of Future Networks South Africa. Additionally, nearly half the operators and governments in their digital
“Some people say AI is 6G,” Chen remarked— population lacks electricity. transformation journeys.
not as a prediction, but as a aspirational
vision. If AI is to become the soul of future To address these gaps, ZTE is focusing on By embedding itself in local ecosystems,
networks, then the foundation—the "muscle affordable and sustainable connectivity ZTE seeks to co-create value and contribute
and bone"—must be laid now. solutions. These include low-cost 4G to the development of a vibrant MEA digital
society.

Final Thought
Chen Qiong’s address was both a reflection
of ZTE’s growing maturity in the MEA
region and a strategic call to action. As
regional governments and operators
pursue ambitious digital agendas, ZTE is
committed to building a resilient digital
future requires collaboration, innovation,
and long-term vision.

With the right partnerships, technologies,
and policy support, the MEA region can
move from infrastructure build-out to
ecosystem empowerment—and ZTE is
positioning itself as a key enabler in that
journey.

108 JUNE-JULY 2025