Huawei unveiled its Intelligent Substation Solution for sub-Saharan Africa at Enlit Africa 2026, positioning the offering as a step towards accelerating digital transformation across the region’s power sector.
The solution was launched during the Southern Africa Electric Power Summit hosted by Huawei under the theme Building future power systems, unleashing surging digital intelligence productivity. The summit brought together utilities and industry stakeholders, including Eskom, Ghana’s Bui Power Authority, the Transmission Company of Nigeria and the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE) to discuss power sector digitalisation and wireless communication network applications.
During the Enlit Africa 2026 keynote session, Wang Guoyu, Vice President of Huawei’s Electric Power Digitalisation Business Unit, delivered a presentation titled Advancing all intelligence, empowering the future power system. He said the emergence of the prosumer model is reshaping energy systems and driving the transition towards intelligent power networks.
“Communication, digitalisation and AI are redefining core power systems. AI and digital technologies are reshaping the entire power value chain from generation and transmission to distribution,” Wang said.
Huawei will continue to deliver AI capabilities and communication technologies aimed at supporting African utilities as they advance their digital transformation strategies, he added.
Huawei launched the Intelligent Power Substation Solution in collaboration with CIGRE and Zhuhai Unitech Power Technology Co. According to utility representatives participating in the summit, the solution integrates intelligent video, AI algorithms and secure wireless networks to automate four key operational functions: monitoring, inspection, meter reading and analysis.
The system enables remote monitoring of substations, reducing inspection times from days to minutes and lowering operations and maintenance labour costs. Representatives said the deployment introduces digital sensing capabilities that support a shift from reactive maintenance to proactive fault detection and warning.
Following the launch, Huawei, CIGRE and the 450 MHz Alliance convened a roundtable discussion on private wireless and power telecommunication networks. Discussions focused on development trends and practical applications for wireless communication, all-optical and data communication networks in the power sector.
Gösta Kallner, Executive Chairman of the 450 MHz Alliance, said private wireless networks operating on the 450 MHz spectrum are increasingly important for reliable and sustainable grid operations due to their broad coverage, ecosystem maturity and long-term scalability. Participants agreed that secure and efficient communication infrastructure will be essential to supporting next-generation power systems and advancing sustainable energy development across 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, we will help write the next chapter of sustainable, intelligent energy for this promising land.
For more information, visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com.
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