Huawei Expedites Regional Fiber Broadband Expansion

09 Oct, 2023

Huawei Expedites Regional Fiber Broadband Expansion

São Paulo, Brazil, recently witnessed the debut of the 1st LATAM Fiber Broadband Leaders Summit, graciously hosted by Huawei, and with support from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Informa Markets. Distinguished industry leaders, representatives from Latin American organizations, ecosystem partners, and carriers converged to deliberate on trends, challenges, successful business practices, and innovative applications of optical fibers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The conference commenced with a notable opening address by Bob Cai, President of Huawei Latin America Carrier Business. He highlighted the rapid growth of broadband connectivity in Latin America and the Caribbean, with particular emphasis on Brazil's high-speed development of 5G infrastructure. Cai emphasized the pivotal role of fiber optics in addressing these connectivity needs.

According to research by ITU, a 10% increase in fiber penetration can boost GDP by 1.9%. Several Latin American nations, including Brazil, Chile, and Mexico, have already implemented policies to accelerate optical fiber development. Brazil's Broadband Strategy, for instance, aims to achieve 100% optical fiber backhaul coverage in areas with over 600 people and attain home access bandwidth exceeding Gbit/s by 2027.

Rodrigo Robles, program officer at the ITU's Regional Office Brasilia, emphasized the significance of broadband connectivity in achieving the UN sustainable goals by 2030. Governments and enterprises, he asserted, must invest in infrastructure, affordability, digital skills, and content to ensure universal internet access.

Jorge Borges, Competition Superintendent of Anatel Brazil, spoke of the agency's commitment to extending connectivity to remote, less-populated regions in Brazil. Investments in isolated locations, including the development of infovias in the north, are underway. Regulatory changes that prioritize users and foster new markets are also in progress.

Huawei, demonstrating its commitment, has deployed over 8,000 kilometers of optical fiber in the Amazon state, providing internet access to 3.7 million people. Bob Cai affirmed Huawei's dedication to leaving no one behind in the digital world.

Major carrier enterprises in Brazil echoed this commitment. Marcelo Carvalho, CMO of Claro Brazil, highlighted the importance of delivering services according to user needs and advocated for public policies to address inequalities and affordability. Átila Branco, CTIO of Fibrasil, and Marcio Estefan, CCO of I-Systems, emphasized the advantages of shared infrastructure for better results and reduced operational costs.

Rodrigo Abreu, CEO of Oi Brazil, mentioned the company's ambitious FTTH project, while Algar Telecom CEO Jean Borges outlined their extensive fiber optics infrastructure across 13 states. Ookla, represented by Lourenço Lanfranchi, underscored the significance of Quality of Experience and Quality of Service from the user's perspective.

The summit concluded with the launch of the Latan Fiber Broadband Initiative, aiming to accelerate fiber broadband development in the region. Bob Cai called upon governments, regulators, operators, and industry partners to collaborate in lighting up the digital future. Huawei remains dedicated to providing intelligent, efficient, and cost-effective Digital Fiber solutions, facilitating network deployment, enhancing user experiences, implementing intelligent O&M, and offering innovative services for homes and enterprises.