Ashraf AboArafe
Xinhua — Beneath the skyline of Rwanda’s vibrant capital, a celebration of technology and trust unfolded as China’s ZTE Corporation and Airtel Rwanda marked ten years of partnership — a journey defined by innovation, resilience, and shared vision.
The event, held under the theme “Connecting Smart Rwanda,” also commemorated the completion of the Airtel–ZTE Wireless Access Network Project, a milestone symbolizing Rwanda’s accelerating transformation into a digital nation.
In his remarks, Sunil Taldar, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, praised ZTE for its unwavering reliability and forward-thinking innovation.
“Every idea we brought to the table, ZTE delivered with precision,” he said. “Airtel Rwanda now operates on a scalable, cost-effective network that our customers recognize and appreciate. That is the true return on partnership.”
Echoing this sentiment, Sujay Chakrabarti, Managing Director of Airtel Rwanda, described the collaboration as a cornerstone of Rwanda’s digital evolution.
“Rooted in a shared commitment to empowering a smarter Rwanda, our partnership has delivered meaningful outcomes — from RAN upgrades and VoLTE rollouts to advancing a greener, more efficient network future,” he said.
From ZTE’s side, Zhang Jianpeng, Senior Vice President of ZTE Corporation, reflected on a decade of joint achievements and future ambitions.
“ZTE and Airtel have worked hand in hand to drive innovation, strengthen Rwanda’s digital infrastructure, and promote sustainability,” Zhang said. “This milestone reflects our shared vision of building a smarter, more connected Rwanda.”
He reaffirmed ZTE’s ongoing dedication to global connectivity through continuous innovation, offering integrated solutions that span wireless and wireline networks, smart devices, and telecom services.
The Kigali event gathered technology experts, telecom executives, and private sector leaders, who witnessed the unveiling of ZTE’s latest advancements in intelligent connectivity — a tribute to how far Rwanda’s digital dreams have come in just one transformative decade.
