Information and communications technology infrastructure and smart devices provider Huawei recently hosted the Southern Africa Electric Power Summit at Enlit Africa 2026—the continent's premier gathering for the power, water and energy sectors. Under the theme "Building Future Power Systems, Unleashing Surging Digital Intelligence Productivity" the summit brought together industry leaders and partners, including South Africa's Eskom, Ghana's BPA, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE). Discussions centered on the development trends and real-world applications of wireless communication networks in the power sector. During the summit, Huawei, together with its partners, unveiled the intelligent substation solution for sub-Saharan Africa, designed to accelerate digital transformation across the region's power industry.

During the Enlit Africa 2026 keynote session,  Huawei electric power digitalisation business unit VP Wang Guoyu delivered a speech titled "Advancing all intelligence, empowering the future power system." He stated that a future-orientated prosumer model is becoming the new paradigm for energy transition，with the power system at a critical point in its transitioning to intelligence. Communication, digitalisation, and AI are redefining core power systems. AI and digital technologies are the key drivers reshaping the entire power value chain, from generation and transmission to distribution. Huawei will continue to bring cutting-edge AI capabilities and reliable communication technologies to power scenarios, helping African utilities as they move into a new stage of intelligence.

During the summit, Huawei, in collaboration with CIGRE, and Zhuhai Unitech Power Technology Co., Ltd., launched the intelligent power substation solution for sub-Saharan Africa. This launch underscores Huawei's commitment to driving intelligent substation upgrades across the continent through partnerships.

Several African utility representatives also shared their perspectives. "This solution integrates intelligent video, AI algorithms, and secure wireless networks to replace four key manual operations with intelligent automation: monitoring, inspection, meter reading and analysis," said a representative. "It allows substation operations and maintenance (O&M) personnel to remotely monitor the entire station. Inspection time has been cut from days to minutes, and O&M labour costs have been reduced by 70%. Our partnership with Huawei has, for the first time, equipped our transmission network with comprehensive digital sensing capabilities, enabling a true shift from reactive repair to proactive warning."

Following the summit, Huawei, together with CIGRE and the 450 MHz Alliance, convened a roundtable on private wireless network and power telecommunication network. Discussions centered on the development trends and real-world applications of wireless communication networks, all-optical networks, and data communication networks within the power sector.

450 MHz Alliance executive chairperson Gösta Kallner emphasised that the utility private wireless network, built on the 450 MHz spectrum, has become the cornerstone for ensuring reliable and sustainable grid operations, thanks to its wide coverage, diverse eco-system and future-ready evolution capabilities. A CIGRE representative added, from the perspective of international standardisation, that a unified technical framework and sharing of global practices are critical to accelerating the digital transformation of power grids. All participants agreed that establishing a ubiquitous, secure, and efficient power communication foundation is essential to supporting new power systems and achieving sustainable power development in Africa.

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to follow a scenario-specific development approach, working closely with electric power customers and ecosystem partners across Southern Africa and the broader continent to further integrate AI and digital technologies into all power scenarios. Huawei is committed to providing intelligent, efficient, and reliable power infrastructure as a solid bedrock for Africa's economic growth and energy transition. Together, Huawei will help write the next chapter of sustainable, intelligent energy for South Africa.