Huawei Calls for Expanded Open Innovation to Prevent a New Digital Divide
In a compelling address at the Huawei ICT Sustainability Roundtable held during MWC Barcelona 2025, Ken Hu, the rotating chairman of Huawei, emphasized the crucial need for open innovation and collaboration among policymakers and stakeholders in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. This call to action comes against the backdrop of rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), which could potentially widen existing digital divides.
Ken Hu highlighted the role of digital technologies and partnerships in fostering sustainable changes for both individuals and the planet. "As we make the world smarter with AI, we are likely to see the emergence of a new digital divide. It is essential that we pay attention to this and collaborate to bridge the gap," Hu explained.
To effectively tackle these challenges, Hu called upon governments to develop more inclusive institutional frameworks and urged a greater number of tech companies to embrace open innovation. He stressed the importance of building more open platforms for collaboration.
During the roundtable, various global experts, alongside partners from the TECH4ALL initiative, showcased how collaborative digital inclusion projects are equipping underserved communities with the skills necessary to navigate the digital world. For instance, John Tanui, an engineer representing the Kenyan government, spoke about how partnerships with Huawei align with Kenya's Vision 2030 by driving economic development through digital infrastructure deployment, digitized government services, and digital skills training for remote and rural communities.
The Huawei TECH4ALL DigiTruck, a mobile classroom mounted on the back of a truck, has trained nearly 6,000 Kenyan youth since 2019. Tanui remarked, "In Kenya, we believe that no one should be left behind. Therefore, Huawei stands as a strategic partner in enhancing digital skills through initiatives like TECH4ALL, which we leverage to promote digital inclusion." With mobile DigiTrucks, they have taught youth about smartphone functionality, online risks, responsible internet usage, and online account and resource protection for learning purposes.
A 2024 evaluation report from Kenya's DigiTruck Digital Literacy Skills Program indicated that 93% of DigiTruck learners improved their job skills due to the training. The report also revealed increased employment rates among former learners, coupled with a significantly higher use of the internet for business activities such as e-commerce. The project partner, GSMA, highlighted the importance of DigiTruck's mobility in reaching extremely remote communities.
Additionally, the Universal Service Fund of Pakistan (USF) shared insights on how collaboration with the Pakistani government, Huawei, and ITU-D is transforming rural villages through the smart village initiative, which introduces connectivity, e-learning, and e-health services to local communities alongside digital skills training.
The roundtable also featured UNESCO and the University of Alicante in Spain, who discussed the development of global digital skills and their collaboration with the Huawei ICT Academy to shape the next generation of ICT talent.
Amid these discussions, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presented how ICT is redefining nature conservation through the global partnership IUCN-Huawei TECH4ALL Tech4Nature, which has supported 13 flagship projects across 11 countries with innovative tech solutions for protected areas.
A common thread among the projects analyzed during the roundtable is the emphasis on technological innovation and cross-sector collaborations, an approach critical for harnessing the power of ICT to foster an inclusive and sustainable digital world.
The TECH4ALL initiative represents Huawei's long-term action plan for digital inclusion, designed to foster inclusion and sustainability in the digital age through innovative technologies and partnerships. For more information, visit Huawei TECH4ALL.
Ken Hu highlighted the role of digital technologies and partnerships in fostering sustainable changes for both individuals and the planet. "As we make the world smarter with AI, we are likely to see the emergence of a new digital divide. It is essential that we pay attention to this and collaborate to bridge the gap," Hu explained.
To effectively tackle these challenges, Hu called upon governments to develop more inclusive institutional frameworks and urged a greater number of tech companies to embrace open innovation. He stressed the importance of building more open platforms for collaboration.
During the roundtable, various global experts, alongside partners from the TECH4ALL initiative, showcased how collaborative digital inclusion projects are equipping underserved communities with the skills necessary to navigate the digital world. For instance, John Tanui, an engineer representing the Kenyan government, spoke about how partnerships with Huawei align with Kenya's Vision 2030 by driving economic development through digital infrastructure deployment, digitized government services, and digital skills training for remote and rural communities.
The Huawei TECH4ALL DigiTruck, a mobile classroom mounted on the back of a truck, has trained nearly 6,000 Kenyan youth since 2019. Tanui remarked, "In Kenya, we believe that no one should be left behind. Therefore, Huawei stands as a strategic partner in enhancing digital skills through initiatives like TECH4ALL, which we leverage to promote digital inclusion." With mobile DigiTrucks, they have taught youth about smartphone functionality, online risks, responsible internet usage, and online account and resource protection for learning purposes.
A 2024 evaluation report from Kenya's DigiTruck Digital Literacy Skills Program indicated that 93% of DigiTruck learners improved their job skills due to the training. The report also revealed increased employment rates among former learners, coupled with a significantly higher use of the internet for business activities such as e-commerce. The project partner, GSMA, highlighted the importance of DigiTruck's mobility in reaching extremely remote communities.
Additionally, the Universal Service Fund of Pakistan (USF) shared insights on how collaboration with the Pakistani government, Huawei, and ITU-D is transforming rural villages through the smart village initiative, which introduces connectivity, e-learning, and e-health services to local communities alongside digital skills training.
The roundtable also featured UNESCO and the University of Alicante in Spain, who discussed the development of global digital skills and their collaboration with the Huawei ICT Academy to shape the next generation of ICT talent.
Amid these discussions, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) presented how ICT is redefining nature conservation through the global partnership IUCN-Huawei TECH4ALL Tech4Nature, which has supported 13 flagship projects across 11 countries with innovative tech solutions for protected areas.
A common thread among the projects analyzed during the roundtable is the emphasis on technological innovation and cross-sector collaborations, an approach critical for harnessing the power of ICT to foster an inclusive and sustainable digital world.
The TECH4ALL initiative represents Huawei's long-term action plan for digital inclusion, designed to foster inclusion and sustainability in the digital age through innovative technologies and partnerships. For more information, visit Huawei TECH4ALL.
Topics Consumer Technology）
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