At the Huawei eKit forum, held as part of the Huawei South Africa Connect 2026 event, distribution partners gathered under the theme 'Grow with Huawei eKit: Distributor Solutions and Partnership Program.' During this event, a comprehensive range of HUAWEI eKit 4+10+N solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa was presented, encompassing over 400 products, alongside confirmation of Huawei's partner and installer-based approach.
Opening the forum under the slogan 'Jointly Stimulating Sustainable Growth,' Leo Liu, Huawei South Africa Platform CFO, highlighted the scale of investments directed towards the company's distribution ambitions. Huawei's research and development account for 21.8 percent of total revenue. Liu emphasized that the distributor market, along with the NA and commercial markets, is one of three strategic directions for Huawei's enterprise business and serves as a key driver for the company's entry into mass markets and achieving rapid growth.
Liu stated that the strategy is built on trust and the conviction that partner growth leads to the growth of South African businesses. He added: 'Huawei enables partner success through tailored solutions, reliable support, high efficiency, and tangible benefits, closing the last mile of intelligence in South Africa. Guided by mutual benefits, integrity, and clear rules, we create a fair and thriving ecosystem that protects our partners.'
Michael Zhu, Director of Corporate Sales and Distribution for Huawei South Africa, and Bill Zhang, Huawei Strategy Technical Architect, introduced the day's central product—the Huawei eKit 4+10+N solutions. This portfolio covers four main application areas: intelligent office, business, education, and healthcare. It includes ten solution scenarios supported by a range of flagship products that simplify deployment for installers. Through partner support via solutions, capabilities, services, and incentives, Huawei helps small businesses bridge the digital divide and succeed in the age of artificial intelligence.
Zhu noted: 'We developed the 4+10+N solutions to handle complexity, so our partners and their customers only have to deal with simplicity. That is the essence of transitioning from selling products to providing solutions.'
Tao Luo, President of the Small Business Networks department within the Campus Network Domain, a Huawei data transmission product line, reported that Huawei's small business networking business has grown by over 56 percent in the last year. Huawei currently has 220 Golden Partners globally, of which 100 exceed one million dollars in annual revenue, in addition to more than 3,600 Elite Partners.
Luo also unveiled new products, including the AR580 secure convergent gateway and the all-in-one AR180 Wi-Fi 7 router. Furthermore, he demonstrated the iGuard DF10 portable terminal, specifically designed for detecting hidden cameras in offices and hotels. He mentioned a successful local project with PC Worx, where Huawei's Wi-Fi 7 technology and the USG6000 series firewall were used to ensure an exceptional network experience at Vastrap Laerskool, creating an environment for teachers and students.
James Kamau Maina, Senior Expert in Intelligent Collaboration and Data Storage in the Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa region, concluded the technical sessions by presenting the Huawei collaboration ecosystem built around the IdeaHub line and the '1+X' strategy, which connects workplace, education, healthcare, and commercial scenarios. Maina explained how the IdeaLink hardware and software platforms extend this ecosystem to partner devices, supporting use cases from classrooms to hospital consultation rooms.
Huawei Gold Distribution Partners shared experiences in building the Huawei eKit ecosystem in South Africa. Gideon Kotze, Managing Director of Even Flow Distribution, discussed the scope of the partnership across the continent. He stated: 'Our strategy has always been about connecting Africa with global technology providers. Huawei eKit provides our partners with a complete, trustworthy portfolio, backed by real local support.'
Bruce Henryks, CEO of Electrosonic SA, described adding HUAWEI eKit to the company's portfolio as a significant strategic move. He noted: 'When we considered HUAWEI eKit, we weren't just looking for another product. We were looking for a strategic partnership that would strengthen our offering and create greater value for our reseller network and consumers.'
Blink Logic, recently accredited as a Huawei Distribution Elite Installer, has completed over 50 corporate deployments across South Africa, maintaining a service level agreement fulfillment rate of 99.5 percent. Sandiso Mabena, COO of Blink Logic, emphasized: 'The combination of Huawei technologies with our own local delivery and support allowed us to take on projects we couldn't handle alone. That is what true partnership looks like.'
The Huawei South Africa Connect 2026 event brought together 2,900 government and industry leaders to discuss the infrastructure and partnerships needed to scale AI adoption in South Africa. Huawei has been operating in South Africa for 28 years, adhering to the principle of 'In South Africa, for South Africa.' Through the eKit Forum, the company reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its distribution partners through stronger products, deeper technical and marketing support, increased operational efficiency, and greater business value, spreading intelligent transformation to every corner of the SME market.