Huawei Calls for Open Innovation to Prevent a New Digital Divide in ICT Sector
At the Huawei ICT Sustainability Roundtable held during MWC Barcelona 2025, Huawei urged policymakers and stakeholders in the ICT sector to foster more open innovation and collaboration to prevent the emergence of a new digital divide due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI). Ken Hu, Huawei's rotating chairman, emphasized in his opening remarks that digital technologies and partnerships are pivotal in driving sustainable changes for people and the planet. He referenced Huawei's TECH4ALL initiative as a testament to this commitment. However, Hu highlighted the necessity for governments and the ICT sector to expand collaborative platforms to ensure inclusivity in the digital landscape.
"As AI makes the world smarter, we are likely to see a new digital divide emerge. We need to pay attention to this and collaborate to bridge that gap," Hu stated, stressing the importance of inclusive institutional frameworks from policymakers and the embrace of open innovation by more tech companies. "We must work together to establish more open platforms for collaboration."
To explore practical solutions, the ICT Sustainability Roundtable brought together global experts and Huawei TECH4ALL partners to showcase how collaborative projects for digital inclusion can equip underserved communities with essential skills for thriving in the digital world. Representing the Kenyan government, Engineer John Tanui, CBS, highlighted the alignment of their efforts with Kenya Vision 2030 by promoting digital economic development through the rollout of digital infrastructure, digitized government services, and training programs in digital skills for remote and rural communities.
Since its inception, the Huawei TECH4ALL DigiTruck—a mobile classroom mounted on a truck—has provided training to nearly 6,000 Kenyan youth since 2019. "In Kenya, we believe that no one should be left behind. Therefore, Huawei has become a strategic partner in enhancing digital skills through initiatives like TECH4ALL, which we use to foster digital inclusion," said Engineer John Tanui, Chief Secretary for the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy in Kenya. "With the mobile DigiTrucks, we've trained youth on smartphone operation and functions, online risks, responsible internet use, and securing online accounts and resources."
According to the 2024 DigiTruck Digital Literacy Program Evaluation Report published by the Kenyan government, 93% of DigiTruck trainees improved their job skills due to the training. The report also revealed increased employment rates among former trainees and a significant rise in internet use for business activities like e-commerce. GSMA, the partner involved with the DigiTruck project in Kenya, underscored the importance of the truck's mobility in reaching extremely remote communities.
The Universal Service Fund Pakistan (USF) explored how collaboration between the Pakistani government, Huawei, and ITU-D is transforming rural villages through TECH4ALL Smart Village Pakistan projects, which bring connectivity, e-education, and e-health initiatives to local communities alongside digital skills training. Collaborations with UNESCO and the University of Alicante focused on developing global digital skills, including engaging with Huawei ICT Academy to nurture the next generation of ICT talent.
In the realm of environmental conservation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) showcased how ICT is redefining conservation efforts through the IUCN-Huawei TECH4ALL Tech4Nature global partnership, which has supported 13 flagship projects in 11 countries with innovative technological solutions for protecting natural reserves.
A common thread across all projects discussed at the roundtable was the emphasis on technological innovation and cross-sector partnerships—an approach crucial for harnessing the power of ICT to enable an inclusive and sustainable digital world.
TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term initiative and action plan for digital inclusion. It leverages innovative technologies and partnerships to enable inclusion and sustainability in the digital world. For more information, visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website at Huawei TECH4ALL and follow us on X at HUAWEI_TECH4ALL.
"As AI makes the world smarter, we are likely to see a new digital divide emerge. We need to pay attention to this and collaborate to bridge that gap," Hu stated, stressing the importance of inclusive institutional frameworks from policymakers and the embrace of open innovation by more tech companies. "We must work together to establish more open platforms for collaboration."
To explore practical solutions, the ICT Sustainability Roundtable brought together global experts and Huawei TECH4ALL partners to showcase how collaborative projects for digital inclusion can equip underserved communities with essential skills for thriving in the digital world. Representing the Kenyan government, Engineer John Tanui, CBS, highlighted the alignment of their efforts with Kenya Vision 2030 by promoting digital economic development through the rollout of digital infrastructure, digitized government services, and training programs in digital skills for remote and rural communities.
Since its inception, the Huawei TECH4ALL DigiTruck—a mobile classroom mounted on a truck—has provided training to nearly 6,000 Kenyan youth since 2019. "In Kenya, we believe that no one should be left behind. Therefore, Huawei has become a strategic partner in enhancing digital skills through initiatives like TECH4ALL, which we use to foster digital inclusion," said Engineer John Tanui, Chief Secretary for the State Department of ICT and Digital Economy in Kenya. "With the mobile DigiTrucks, we've trained youth on smartphone operation and functions, online risks, responsible internet use, and securing online accounts and resources."
According to the 2024 DigiTruck Digital Literacy Program Evaluation Report published by the Kenyan government, 93% of DigiTruck trainees improved their job skills due to the training. The report also revealed increased employment rates among former trainees and a significant rise in internet use for business activities like e-commerce. GSMA, the partner involved with the DigiTruck project in Kenya, underscored the importance of the truck's mobility in reaching extremely remote communities.
The Universal Service Fund Pakistan (USF) explored how collaboration between the Pakistani government, Huawei, and ITU-D is transforming rural villages through TECH4ALL Smart Village Pakistan projects, which bring connectivity, e-education, and e-health initiatives to local communities alongside digital skills training. Collaborations with UNESCO and the University of Alicante focused on developing global digital skills, including engaging with Huawei ICT Academy to nurture the next generation of ICT talent.
In the realm of environmental conservation, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) showcased how ICT is redefining conservation efforts through the IUCN-Huawei TECH4ALL Tech4Nature global partnership, which has supported 13 flagship projects in 11 countries with innovative technological solutions for protecting natural reserves.
A common thread across all projects discussed at the roundtable was the emphasis on technological innovation and cross-sector partnerships—an approach crucial for harnessing the power of ICT to enable an inclusive and sustainable digital world.
About TECH4ALL
TECH4ALL is Huawei's long-term initiative and action plan for digital inclusion. It leverages innovative technologies and partnerships to enable inclusion and sustainability in the digital world. For more information, visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website at Huawei TECH4ALL and follow us on X at HUAWEI_TECH4ALL.
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