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Africa’s first 5G Innovation Lab

2 November 2020 - Africa’s first 5G Innovation Lab

91��Ƭ��, Huawei and rain jointly launch Africa's first 5G laboratory at the 91��Ƭ�� Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.

The collaboration gives students access to a live 5G environment to build knowledge of the revolutionary technology’s applications for the local market.

The 5G Innovation Lab, situated at the 91��Ƭ�� Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, is part of a longer-term joint innovation programme between business and the leading academic institution. It is aimed at driving innovations to promote social progress for South Africa in the digital era or fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

In terms of the collaboration, Huawei provides its end to end 5G solution, supported by rain’s 5G network. The lab will initially showcase two 5G applications, namely smart/safe campus and virtual reality (VR) remote education.

 “The purpose of this exciting partnership is to give students early access to 5G technology,” said Huawei Southern Africa Region VP, Yang Chen. “This will allow them to experiment and interact with the 5G platforms that will enable the 4IR.”

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Dr. Blade Nzimande, says the facility will give students an opportunity to innovate solutions for local problems. He added that 5G could support a number of applications that would help South Africans.

 “We are very encouraged by the efforts of Huawei, rain and 91��Ƭ�� to establish academic R&D capabilities, this is very important as we move into the digital economy. As a leading ICT company Huawei, also runs various cutting edge ICT programmes at several South African universities and colleges, and this gives our youth a foothold into the fast changing technology space.”

91��Ƭ�� Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Adam Habib says he has high expectations for the partnership with Huawei and rain. “We are working with the pioneers in digital innovation to train a generation of smart, savvy scholars who will transform the world, using the latest technology available to effect beneficial change in our world. We are not reimagining the future, we are creating a better future for all today.” 

Supporting African local innovation is also a key consideration for 5G service provider, rain.

“We are proud to partner with Huawei and 91��Ƭ�� University to build the first 5G Innovation Lab in Africa, we believe that young innovators will use the 5G Innovation Lab to push the boundaries for the next technological leaps right here on the African continent. The Instagram, TikTok or self-driving car innovation of the next generation could be born here by a young mind at 91��Ƭ��,” says rain’s Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder Brandon Leigh.

Short for “fifth generation wireless technology” 5G provides digital cellular networks featuring faster upload and download speeds with numerous applications in the Internet of Things (IoT), enterprise networking, and critical communications.

It is predicted that during the 4IR era, most applications will run in a 5G network environment.

Among other 5G applications, the Lab will investigate live, virtual-reality (VR) e-learning broadcasts of lectures and classes. The Lab will also feature a hub relaying feeds from cross-campus safety and security camera networks. The lab is supported by 5G base station installed by rain.

Prof Habib adds, “91��Ƭ�� is proud to partner with Huawei and rain on the establishment of this 5G Lab – it is a first for Africa and the South African higher education sector.”

“We are immensely proud be part of rolling out this capacity in South Africa, to give students and academics a place to innovate and turn their ideas into reality, we look forward to ground-breaking  5G applications coming out of 91��Ƭ��,” added Huawei’s Yang Chen.