ZTE’s Signal Reach Program Wins Prestigious WSIS 2025 Champion Award
On July 11, 2025, ZTE Corporation, a global leader in integrated information and communication technology solutions, celebrated a momentous achievement as its Signal Reach Program was awarded the WSIS Champion Award during the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2025. This remarkable honor highlights ZTE's commitment to innovation and cultural diversity in the field of information and communication technology (ICT).
The WSIS Champion Award recognizes initiatives that significantly contribute to sustainable development and the global digital transformation. ZTE proudly emerged as the sole Chinese company to receive this esteemed accolade, placing it among a select group of pioneering projects dedicated to enhancing global information accessibility through ICT.
Awarded by key organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), UNESCO, UNDP, and UNCTAD, the WSIS aims to foster sustainable development within the global information society. To determine award recipients, a rigorous selection process was employed, involving online voting and expert evaluations that sifted through thousands of submissions to highlight exceptional initiatives.
ZTE’s Signal Reach Program stands out with its core principles of ultra-fast connectivity, sustainable energy, and inclusive participation. This ambitious project addresses the critical issue of inadequate digital infrastructure in remote regions across Africa, offering a comprehensive end-to-end solution, from establishing base stations to providing end-user devices.
Innovatively, the project merges modular base station technology with solar energy systems, introducing EcoSite base stations that can be set up in just seven days. These stations utilize ZTE’s proprietary 2TR Tri-Band UBR technology, which dramatically reduces network coverage costs by 70% while improving network rollout efficiency through a one-stage upgrade design by 60%.
The EcoEnergy solution ensures a stable and reliable supply of green energy for these remote areas, complemented by iEnergy management software that optimizes energy consumption, thereby lowering operational costs and enhancing system sustainability. In a practical application example in Liberia, ZTE successfully established 128 base stations in three months, which provided vital mobile services to over 580,000 users in rural communities.
Beyond technology deployment, the Signal Reach Program actively promotes cultural diversity. By facilitating stable and reliable digital connections in remote areas, it empowers local populations to integrate more seamlessly into the global information society. This initiative fosters cross-cultural exchange and understanding, playing a vital role in enhancing cultural diversity across Africa.
At the high-profile WSIS+20 event, ZTE's Vice President Summer Chen participated in the influential Partner2Connect (P2C) session, where she expressed pride in being one of the inaugural P2C Champions recognized by ITU for promoting global digitalization. Chen reiterated ZTE's unwavering commitment to spearheading digital transformation and championing sustainable development initiatives worldwide.
Looking ahead, ZTE will continue to advance the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), encouraging global digitalization and aiding communities through inclusive and innovative technologies. For more information on the Signal Reach Program and ZTE's dedication to meaningful connectivity, please visit the following links:
Signal Reach Program and
ITU P2C Digital Coalition.
About ZTE
ZTE Corporation is a prominent provider of advanced telecommunications systems, mobile devices, and network solutions for mobile operators, enterprises, public institutions, and private users. The company focuses on delivering integrated, end-to-end innovations that ensure high-quality products within the telecommunications and information technology convergence. ZTE is publicly traded on the Hong Kong and Shenzhen stock exchanges and serves over 500 network operators in more than 160 countries. Committed to research and development, ZTE invests at least ten percent of its annual revenue in this area and plays a significant role in several international bodies for the development of global standards. As a socially responsible corporation, ZTE is a member of the UN Global Compact.