en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) recently announced the winners of the 2026 DWP Digital with Purpose Global Awards in Shenzhen, with ZTE's "Africa Signal Upgrade Plan" receiving both the Smart City Award and the Annual Global Award. The awards feature three special categories: Climate Action, Smart City, and Health and Well-being. The Annual Global Award is the sole highest honor of the year, selected from projects across all categories. ZTE's dual award recognition acknowledges the project and the company's long-term commitment to empowering digital transformation in remote areas through technological innovation and promoting global sustainable development.
Chen Zhiping, Chief International Ecosystem Representative of ZTE, stated while receiving the award, "The Africa Signal Upgrade Plan is not only a communication technology project but also a social responsibility initiative. ZTE will continue to leverage its technological advantages, working with customers, non-governmental organizations, and local community partners to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals."
Addressing the weak digital infrastructure in rural and remote areas of Africa, the "Africa Signal Upgrade Plan" is centered on "Broad Connectivity, Green Energy, and Inclusive Sharing," launching the "EcoSite + EcoEnergy + EcoDevice" end-to-end rural ecosystem solution. The Rural EcoSite solution uses highly integrated equipment and multiple backhaul options, supporting flexible evolution from 2G/3G/4G to 5G. Its Lego-like modular tower reduces construction difficulty and time, shortening the average site construction period by over 60% and reducing overall construction costs by 70%. The Rural EcoEnergy solution provides a full solar power supply system, equipped with high-efficiency photovoltaic panels and smart lithium batteries, combined with the iEnergy energy management platform for dynamic load adjustment and remote monitoring. Some sites can even feed power back to the grid. The Rural EcoDevice solution offers cost-effective smartphones and MiFi/CPE terminal devices tailored for the African market, paired with low-cost data plans and digital skills training, aiming to bridge the "last mile" of digital services.
To date, the plan has been implemented in over 20 African countries, including Liberia, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Algeria, South Africa, and Egypt. In Liberia, Orange Liberia and ZTE provide digital, financial, and energy services to over one million users in more than 200 low-density communities. In Ethiopia, Ethio Telecom and ZTE provide network services to over 100 low-density areas, supporting applications in e-payment, distance education, and ecological protection. In south-central and eastern Cameroon, by deploying agricultural sites and a 360-kilometer backbone microwave link, a rural communication reinforcement network has been built, serving nearly 15 million people. In Egypt, a high-speed broadband network has been built for nearly 10 million users in over 1,500 villages.
During the conference, Chen Zhiping participated in the roundtable forum "Building a Digital Foundation for a Sustainable Future," sharing practices of using digital technology to build a digital foundation for global sustainable development. Chen Zhiping stated that the essence of sustainable development includes low-carbon emission reduction and universal access to digital opportunities. Green, affordable, and inclusive digital infrastructure is the core cornerstone for building a sustainable future. ZTE will uphold the concept of open collaboration, working with global enterprises and international organizations to build a digital with purpose ecosystem. In the future, ZTE will continue to drive the ICT industry towards an inclusive, intelligent, and green direction in areas such as green communications, digital inclusion, and low-carbon operations.
