China Telecom Supports Smart Development in Africa

China Telecom Corporation Limited (China Telecom) has stepped up efforts to support communication infrastructure construction and promote informatization in African countries in recent years.

As the only central state-owned communication operator at this year's China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), China Telecom demonstrated its projects in infrastructure construction, economic growth and livelihood improvement in Africa.

The company said it has built more than 50,000 kilometers of optical fiber backbone communication lines in 11 African countries and launched several smart application pilot projects, as well as provided industrial informatization solutions to countries like Kenya, South Africa and Egypt.

China Telecom's booth at the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, on Sept 26 [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

As the first Chinese operator to develop in a foreign market, China Telecom started its exploration in Africa as early as 2008. It now has branches in 25 African countries and technical, engineering and service teams in nearly 30 countries.

In 2015, the company launched its Africa-Middle East subsidiary, which has boosted its business in Africa.

Under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, China Telecom has taken advantage of its network and operation capacity and established more than 20 network nodes in South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria and Djibouti, providing one-stop communication information solutions and improving informatization.

Its efforts have contributed to the construction of a "smart Africa" and information highway development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

In addition, China Telecom has also helped local governments, enterprises and institutes get access to the internet and offered cybersecurity and office management systems, creating highly-efficient, safe and reliable office operation environments.

A China Telecom staffer demonstrates the company's projects and services in Africa at CAETE on Sept 26. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Next, China Telecom will continue to use its comprehensive information service to support infrastructure and smart city construction and digital economic development in Africa.

Themed "New Start, New Opportunities and New Accomplishments", this year's CAETE was held in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province, on Sept 26.

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)