Why Huawei remains committed to Cypriot stakeholders and customers

Radoslaw Kedzia, Vice-President of Huawei CEE & Nordic Europe Region, talks about the Chinese ICT company’s investments in Cyprus, being caught in the middle of a geopolitical war, and its unceasing efforts to adapt as a business in order to survive.

Let’s begin on a personal note: What inspired you to pursue a career in the telecommunications industry and how did you get your start?

I’ve always loved technology and I have a technology background. I believe that leadership must be based on a concrete grasp of the subject matter to which it is applied. You need to understand the intricacies of telecommunications technology and the market aspects of it to be able to make the right assessments and decisions. I graduated from a telecommunication college and studied marketing management. I have worked for operators and suppliers in Poland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Kenya, Uganda and the UK, which broadened my horizon of the telecom sector.

You were the first European to be appointed as a regional director for Huawei. On your list of personal achievements, where does this rank?

I don’t really collect trophies! Each achievement is a combination of determination, skills and team effort. As the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates said, “There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.” As such, I am looking forward to future achievements that will enrich my field of knowledge.

In what areas has the company invested in the island so far?

Huawei has been in Cyprus since 2009, which means 14 years of presence. We have a clear investment strategy in every market that we operate in: we invest in ICT, consumer devices, green energy and the automotive industry. We always estimate what is the best fit for the market and how our presence can be technologically beneficial for the country, its citizens, and all business sectors. I think that Cyprus has one of the best telecommunications networks in the region and even though we do not operate the networks but only provide technological solutions, we are committed to creating value for our customers so they can succeed in their digital transformation and be even more competitive. We hope to provide similar success stories, together with our partners in Cyprus, in other areas such as digital power as well as private and public sector and social value projects.

In what ways has the company contributed to the development of the local ICT industry?

Huawei Cyprus’ aim is to create maximum value for its customers by offering innovative ICT solutions, products and services. In particular, in the field of telecommunications, Huawei continuously provides carriers with competitive, innovative and uninterrupted high-speed fixed and mobile solutions, as well as value-added know-how with significant benefits for the country. For corporate/business customers, Huawei has introduced digital, innovative ideas and pilot applications for both the public and private sectors. Finally, in the consumer products sector, we continue to offer technologically advanced smart devices.

One of the cornerstones of our contribution to the local industry came in 2020, when Huawei delivered the first commercial 5G network in Cyprus. Generally, we cooperate with all operators to enhance connectivity in every corner of the country, including fibre and TV projects strengthening the network in all domains with IP, Microwave and DMWM solutions. Apart from the business contribution to the country, Huawei is also committed in the area of corporate social responsibility by implementing important projects in the educational field. The first one is the “Seeds for the Future” educational programme. In Cyprus, Huawei is cooperating with the University of Cyprus, the Cyprus University of Technology, Frederick University and European University of Cyprus. From 2016 to 2019, 18 university students participated in this educational programme, spending two weeks in China (in Beijing and Shenzhen at our HQ). Since 2020, due to the pandemic, the programme has been implemented online, with the participation of 59 Cypriot university students. We hope that from 2024 and onwards, it will again be conducted with a physical presence. We also have the Huawei Scholarship Programme, which was implemented in Cyprus last year and will be continued this year as well. Students from four universities will be granted scholarships, showcasing the company’s longstanding support for education, with the aim of further boosting innovation and investing in the country’s future ICT professionals. The overall aim of Huawei in Cyprus is to contribute towards the country’s objective of further strengthening its competitiveness and investments with the ultimate goal of achieving smart, sustainable and inclusive growth across all business sectors.

Are you planning to expand your presence in the country?

We remain committed to Cypriot stakeholders and customers by helping them achieve their business goals and digital transformation. At the same time, we are open to new cooperations and collaborations with local companies so as to bring a fully connected digital world to every person, home and organisation in Cyprus.

Over the past decade, Huawei has pumped more than US$142.2 billion into Research & Development. What specific solutions have emerged or are in the pipeline as a result of this massive investment?

We are a company with one of the widest portfolios of products and solutions in the market. The fact that we are assessed by independent organisations as one of the most innovative and leading industries in many areas is confirmation that R&D investment is the right way forward. Let’s not forget that, in 2022, our total R&D was US$23.5 billion, representing 25.1% of our total revenue – among the highest in Huawei’s history! Indicatively, I should mention that advancements in basic scientific research result in performance improvements, lower energy consumption, size reduction and a circular economy, and contribute to standards that help our customers on their digital transformation journey.

In your opinion, what are some of the biggest technology trends that will shape the future of the telecommunications industry, and which one excites you the most?

At Huawei, we address three layers of technology: end-user interfaces, such as devices, transport networks, and cloud and AI. I believe in the next 5-10 years, all three layers will see great advancements and will again change the way we live and work. Obviously, the automation that comes with AI – with the right applications and proper ethical controls – will revolutionise all industries. But for this to be achieved, there will be a great need for computing power and fast data transfers with low latency. So, 5.5G and 6G technologies are inevitable. As for end-user devices, I expect a paradigm shift, especially since the end user will not be a person but a machine that will process certain tasks.

Huawei has been in the news in recent years, mainly because it is widely viewed in the West – notably by the US, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and some EU countries – as a security risk, due to the company’s ties with the Chinese government. On the other hand, as you have said, Huawei offers Cyprus 5G solutions. To what extent have politics forced the company to rethink its priorities and goals in the region?

We, like any other company, must be aware of business environment challenges and, obviously, we have become a centre of attention in the global geopolitical competition between the major powers. This happened without our intention or knowledge. We are not a political organisation – we are a technology company, so for us, it was shocking to see how easy it was to put a label on a single entity with no proof or evidence. Nevertheless, our purpose is to serve our customers and make sure they can rely on us. We’ve been achieving this goal and we intend to continue. Of course, we have had to rethink and reorganise a lot of processes and products but I think the challenges that we’ve gone through have made us one of the most resilient companies to external challenges.

Finally, in addition to political pressure from the West, Huawei CEO Xen Zhengfei told staff in late 2022 that Huawei is “in survival mode” and encouraged employees to find solutions for where the company should go next. So, what does the future hold?

Every large organisation goes through developmental phases across its lifespan. We’ve seen a number of great companies disappear because they didn’t align their strategies or they became complacent; we don’t want to fall into this trap. ‘Survival mode’ was implemented way before the political pressure arose but I think this pressure has also had a strengthening effect on our company. We have become even more focused and pragmatic about what lies ahead.

This interview first appeared in the April edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.