ZTE To Invest More In Africa

VENTURES AFRICA – China’s largest listed telecommunication equipment company, ZTE Corp, is set to increase its investments in Africa as it aims to boost Africa’s socio-economic development by introducing new advanced telecom technology coupled with high-quality services.

According to ZTE, better telecom networks will help narrow the digital gap between Africa and developed countries as the availability of qualified telecom networks will enable African people to gain access to a vast volume of information on various subjects, including education, agriculture and healthcare.

A recent report released by the Sweden’s Chalmers University of Technology, had asserted that doubling a country’s average broadband speed tends to boost its GDP by 0.3 percent. As a result of this ZTE believes that the rapid development of mobile broadband will benefit African countries economically.

Founded in Shenzhen in 1985, ZTE is the world’s fourth-largest mobile phone manufacturer by shipments and the fifth-largest telecom equipment maker by sales.

ZTE began marketing operations in Africa in 1997. Today, it has offices and branches in 51 African countries. More than half of its employees in Africa are locals.

In 2011, it developed a partnership with major African telecom carriers, and its sales in Africa last year rose by 20 percent year on year.

ZTE was also recognised alongside South Africa’s Cell C, in November 2010, as the fastest provider of broadband services in South Africa, in a broadband survey.