Huawei has reinforced its commitment to accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in South Africa, urging stronger partnerships between government, businesses and technology partners to build the digital infrastructure needed for AI-driven economic growth.
The announcements were made during Huawei South Africa Connect 2026, the company’s flagship technology conference, which brought together government officials, industry leaders and technology experts to discuss the country’s AI future under the theme “Where Innovation Shapes the Future.”
Opening the event, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, said AI should be viewed as an opportunity to address the country’s development challenges rather than as a threat.
He highlighted the importance of expanding affordable connectivity and access to digital devices to ensure more South Africans can participate in the digital economy.
Huawei South Africa CEO Will Meng said robust digital infrastructure remains the foundation for large-scale AI deployment. He noted that countries seeking to accelerate AI adoption must first strengthen their connectivity, data capabilities and digital transformation efforts before unlocking the full economic value of intelligent technologies.
The company also introduced its ACT framework, a strategy designed to help organizations transition from small-scale AI pilots to enterprise-wide deployment by identifying high-impact use cases and training AI models with industry-specific data.
Additionally, Huawei estimated that AI could contribute between USD59.9 billion and USD83.8 billion to South Africa’s economy by 2030 while creating up to 400,000 jobs.
However, the company noted that fewer than 35% of businesses have identified AI opportunities within their data, while the country faces a shortage of around 200,000 AI and ICT professionals by the end of the decade.
Huawei said it is continuing to invest in South Africa’s digital infrastructure to help bridge these gaps. Its network currently supports millions of mobile and broadband users, while its enterprise solutions extend connectivity across hospitals, schools and private sector organizations.
The company reaffirmed its long-term commitment to South Africa, saying it will continue investing in AI-ready infrastructure and collaborating with customers, government and partners to support the country’s digital transformation agenda.
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