JOHANNESBURG, Oct 27 (Reuters) - South African telecoms operator Telkom (TKGJ.J) has launched its 5G high-speed internet network using technology from China's Huawei Technologies [RIC:RIC:HWT.UL], the companies said on Thursday.
"The COVID pandemic has driven significant lifestyle changes for South Africans, due to work from home or school from home, online shopping and an 'always on' kind of culture," said Fortune Wang, Carrier Business Director for Huawei South Africa.
"At launch Telkom will primarily focus on providing super fast 5G fixed wireless access solutions, as the demand for mobile 5G increases, we will supplement this with suitable mobile propositions," said Lunga Siyo, chief executive officer of Telkom Consumer and Business.
Shunned in the global north due to security concerns, which Huawei has denied, the Chinese company dominates in Africa as a supplier of equipment to many telecoms operators.
Reporting by Nqobile Dludla Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.