Published by Norway-Asia Business Review
 

It is already ten years ago that Huawei settled in Norway. Back then there were three employees in the country; by now there are 150.
 

CEO of Huawei Norway, Mr Lucas Tan, celebrated the recent decade at a gala dinner. Present were Mr Wang Min, Ambassador of The People’s Republic of China to Norway and Ms Dilek Ayhan, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.
 

Mr Tan opened the dinner by highlighting the current state of the company. “Today, we have 180,000 employees globally, and almost half of them are working in the research and development department. Our global revenue last year was over USD 75 billion, and we invested more than 10 percent of this revenue back into research and development. Our spending on R&D over the past 10 years was USD 45 billion, and last year we ranked number two in patent applications worldwide.”
 

Mr Tan also explained the decision to settle in Norway and the results of that decision. “Norway is a small country in terms of its population. But, it is famous with innovation. In the past ten years, we have witnessed telecom history with our own eyes. And, together with our customers we achieved many remarkable milestones. In 2009, we launched the world first 4G network with Telia in Norway. In 2015, Telia launched the first 4.5G network. And in 2016, Altibox launched the first 4K TV service. This year, we demonstrated 5G with Telenor in Norway.”
 

Finally, Mr Tan pointed out the social responsible business approach of Huawei. “As a company, we take our corporate social responsibilities very seriously. In 2013, we started our Global Seeds for the Future program in Norway. This year, a group of eight students from Norwegian universities will visit China and learn more about ICT industry and Chinese culture.”
 

Enough of the past; the future also holds great potential in the digital economy according to the 2017 Global Connectivity Index (GCI) by Huawei. “The GCI 2017 report shows three emerging trends from three years of research:
 

1. Expanding broadband network remains a priority for all clusters as it plays an important role in economic growth. With such capability, nations can identify niche market opportunities based on their unique capabilities and ensure continuous development.
 

2. Cloud capabilities can act as a powerful equaliser for Adopters and Starters, in particular, to take giant steps ahead in the technology stack, drive innovation and achieve sustainable growth.
 

3. Investment in ICT Infrastructure initiates a chain reaction of Digital Transformation, with Cloud as a potent catalyst in the chain and a gateway to the power of Big Data and IoT.
 

GCI 2017 pinpoints investing in Broadband as the first step to tap Cloud capabilities. Once Cloud come into play, it can deliver a chain reaction of Digital Transformation benefiting nations’ industries, companies and people.”
 

Expanding broadband access will go rapidly Huawei predicts in the trends section of its website. “The broadband industry is developing at amazing speed in an effort to bring broadband access to all. By 2025, almost everyone will carry a smart device and use the internet. More than 100 billion devices around the world will be connected. The rapid advance of the ICT industry will hasten the development of new industries, such as distance education, telemedicine, smart grid, smart transportation, and smart homes. In the next decade, our lives and work will change fundamentally, as ICT becomes profoundly integrated with business, government, and people worldwide.”
 

Additionally, our current youth will speed up technological developments according to Huawei’s predictions. “We now have 7.2 billion people and more than 25% of them are below 18 years of age. Driven by their love of technology, young people will help define the future of mankind. Young people crave the opportunities that go hand in hand with ubiquitous connection; as the most tech-savvy of us all, they will increasingly determine the direction of development.”
 

Huawei’s ambitions for the future are set high and major opportunities seem to lie ahead. Let’s see what the next ten years have in store for digital innovation in Norway.
 

Facts:

• Huawei has 180,000 employees globally;
• Global revenue in 2016 was over USD 75 billion;
• In 2017 Huawei demonstrated 5G with Telenor in Norway;
• Huawei predicts that by 2025 almost everyone will carry a smart device, use the internet and more than 100 billion devices around the world will be connected;
• 2017 Global Connectivity Index by Huawei;
• Global trends as identified by Huawei can be found here.