Huawei Exceeds Rural Connectivity Goal

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) launched the Partner2Connect (P2C) Digital Coalition in 2021 to foster digital transformation in the hardest-to-connect communities, including those in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. The coalition serves as a platform for mobilizing new resources and partnerships to achieve universal, meaningful connectivity. Huawei originally pledged in 2022 to connect 120 million people in remote areas by 2025 as part of the P2C initiative. The company surpassed this goal a year ahead of schedule, having now provided connectivity to 170 million people across more than 80 countries. To achieve this, Huawei developed a series of innovative solutions tailored for rural environments. These include the RuralStar, RuralLink, and RuralCow solutions, which are designed to be low-cost, easy to deploy on simple poles, and often solar-powered to function in areas without reliable electricity. For instance, the RuralCow solution can extend network coverage to villages with around 1,500 residents. These connectivity solutions have demonstrated tangible impacts on the ground. In rural Nigeria, Huawei partnered with local carrier MTN to bring connectivity to villages, enabling healthcare workers to save time and lives by contacting doctors remotely. In Côte d'Ivoire, a project funded by the World Bank is using Huawei's RuralStar solution to build 155 base stations, allowing farmers to sell agricultural products online. Beyond just providing infrastructure, Huawei's digital inclusion efforts include skills training. The "Skills on Wheels" program, a mobile, solar-powered classroom, has provided digital skills training to over 130,000 people in 21 countries since its launch in 2019. The broader Partner2Connect coalition has secured over $82 billion in total pledges and is on track to meet its $100 billion target by the end of 2026. However, the ITU estimates that achieving universal, meaningful connectivity by 2030 could require between $2.6 trillion and $2.8 trillion in investment. Globally, a significant digital divide persists, with an estimated 2.2 billion people remaining offline. In low-income countries, there is a stark contrast between urban and rural connectivity, with a significant gap in internet usage. The next phase of the Partner2Connect initiative will continue to mobilize resources and foster partnerships to close this gap. This includes multi-stakeholder collaboration between governments, the private sector, and civil society to fund digital infrastructure, enhance digital skills, and promote sustainable development.