Huawei Surpasses ITU Partner2Connect Commitment, Bringing Connectivity to 170 Million People Worldwide

Barcelona, Spain – (ANTARA/PRNewswire) Huawei has provided digital connectivity to 170 million people in remote regions across more than 80 countries, surpassing its commitment to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition. The announcement was made by Yang Chaobin, CEO of Huawei’s ICT Business Group, at the TECH Cares Forum held by Huawei in Barcelona. He explained that this achievement exceeds the commitment Huawei undertook when joining the ITU P2C Digital Coalition in 2022, which was to connect 120 million people in remote areas by 2025. He also expressed appreciation to Huawei’s customers and telecom partners for their cooperation in achieving the objective. The forum was attended by around 80 participants from governments, industry players, partner organisations, and international bodies. Attendees engaged in in-depth discussions on the importance of expanding digital inclusion in the AI era, while also discussing practical solutions and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders. In his remarks, Yang emphasised that although AI technologies are advancing rapidly, the digital divide remains, and may even widen. ‘High-speed digital networks and robust computing capacity are essential foundations for realising an inclusive and sustainable AI era,’ he said. He added that Huawei’s success in meeting the ITU P2C commitment demonstrates a sustained commitment to innovation by delivering better access to healthcare, education, and financial services for people in remote areas through digital connectivity. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication Development Bureau, commended Huawei’s achievement in reducing the digital divide. ‘Digital connectivity for rural communities and underserved communities requires an innovative business model, an inclusive approach, effective use of communications resources, community engagement, and sustainable investment in local capacity development. I applaud Huawei’s commitment to universal, beneficial connectivity. I am also proud of this strong and successful partnership,’ he said. According to Jeff Wang, President of Huawei Public Affairs and Communications, digital inclusion rests on two main pillars: inclusive connectivity and empowerment of digital skills. To address the digital skills gap, Huawei collaborates with governments and various organisations to support students, younger generations, older people, and women through three main initiatives: expanding digital access, providing digital skills training, and developing STEM curricula. Since its launch in 2019, Huawei’s Skills on Wheels programme has provided digital training via mobile facilities to more than 130,000 people across 21 countries, opening up new opportunities for communities that were previously underserved. Meanwhile, Marina Madale, Executive, Sustainability and Shared Value, MTN Group, stressed that connectivity is not a luxury but a basic infrastructure for Africa’s growth. In line with Jeff Wang’s view, she added that MTN prioritises expanding connectivity in rural areas, improving device affordability, and building digital and AI skills. In the area of rural network innovation, Huawei has continued to develop the Rural Series since 2017 to improve coverage and efficiency of network deployment. The latest solution, Huawei RuralCow, was launched in November 2025, expanding network reach to villages with around 1,500 inhabitants through collaboration with MTN Nigeria. The solution contributes to Huawei’s target of connecting 170 million people, while also supporting local economic growth and expanding access to public digital services. At the forum, participants also outlined the progress of their collaborations with Huawei and expressed a desire to deepen cooperation in the future. All parties agreed that expanding digital inclusion in the AI era requires cooperation between governments, telecom operators, international organisations, and companies. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to drive innovation in rural network technologies, strengthen open collaboration, and accelerate digital skills empowerment programmes. Through concrete steps, Huawei is committed to helping build a more just and sustainable digital world. SOURCE Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd