Huawei, in conjunction with the Youth ICT Council, recently launched a 5G training programme that will see 100 South African young graduates equipped with vital 5G skills and insights. The programme forms part of Huawei’s commitment to equipping South African graduates with the skills they need to make the most of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
Given that 5G technology will play a pivotal role in driving that revolution, the skills provided to the programme participants will go a long way to equipping them to thrive not only as workers but also as entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Albert Lysko of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) underlined just how important increased broadband access and speed is for socioeconomic development.
“Increased speed and more accessible broadband mean a better life for all people,” he said. “The last year has shown just how critical broadband is, especially when it comes to the evolution of education and work.”
“The importance of connectivity will only grow in the coming years,” Lysko adds.
“The information requirements for sensors on things like self-driving cars, smart objects, and factory components, mean that we’ll need ever-increasing levels of connectivity and bandwidth. 5G is an important element and great technology to provide that connectivity and building the networks behind it will take widespread skills development.”
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says, “Government has a clear commitment to developing a South African economy that has the necessary technology and skills to compete globally. Huawei has been a valuable partner not just in building the infrastructure that South Africa needs, but also through programmes such as this one, developing the skills required to build a highly developed digital economy.”
