To ensure that Africa benefits from the new round of technological innovation, especially artificial intelligence, it is necessary to solidify three important foundations: affordable network connections and equipment, reliable digital public infrastructure, and digital literacy that is close to the reality of the people. This will help Africa move towards a more inclusive digital future, "said Soli Malazi, Minister of Communications and Digital Technology of South Africa, at the 28th Africa Science and Technology Festival held in Cape Town, South Africa. As one of the largest and most influential technology exhibitions in Africa, the Africa Science and Technology Festival aims to promote the digital transformation of the continent and accelerate the development of the African technology industry. This year's science and technology festival mainly includes the Africa Communications Exhibition, the Africa Science and Technology Exhibition, the Africa Entrepreneurship Exhibition, and the Cape Town Summit on Artificial Intelligence, attracting more than 300 technology companies from around the world to participate, and over 10000 global technology and communication industry decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and investors to attend. The development of digital technology has given rise to new trends in automation and intelligence in industries such as industry, finance, and public health. From hard connectivity facilities such as network access and interconnectivity to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and digital cloud, more and more international partners are joining the digitalization process in Africa, promoting inclusive growth of digital technology in Africa, "said James Williams, the project director of this year's Science and Technology Festival. Currently, Africa's digital infrastructure is relatively lagging behind and there is a great demand for digital transformation, which has enormous potential. At this year's Science and Technology Festival, dozens of Chinese technology companies showcased their latest products and technologies, hoping to fully leverage their advantages in resources, products, and other fields to provide assistance for Africa's digital transformation process. As a leading global provider of specialized communication solutions, Hainengda Communication Co., Ltd. exhibited a series of products including digital walkie talkies, cluster systems, emergency communication equipment, etc., attracting many people to stop and learn about the product situation. These devices are suitable for public safety, emergency and other scenarios. We share our digital experience and products with the local community, empowering social governance with digital technology, "said Zheng Tianbo, Deputy General Manager of the Overseas Sales Department of Hainengda. Jiangsu Hengtong Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. brings innovative solutions for cables and optical cables. At present, Hengtong Optoelectronics has two cable factories and one optical cable factory in South Africa, making it one of the largest cable manufacturing enterprises in southern Africa. Liu Dehou, the general manager of Hengtong Optoelectronics South Africa Optical Cable Company, said that the company has achieved an annual production capacity of 2 million core kilometers in South Africa and will focus on expanding its product line, bringing more capital and technology, and creating more job opportunities for the local area in the future. In early November, the 2Africa East section of the Africa Rim submarine cable project, jointly built by China Mobile and seven other international operators, was officially launched. The total length of this African submarine cable construction project is about 45000 kilometers, connecting more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. After completion, it will effectively enhance the bandwidth capacity of African countries and reduce internet costs. "Tao Ji, General Manager of China Mobile International South Africa, said that in recent years, China Mobile has continuously strengthened cooperation with local African operators such as Vodacom and MTN, and improved the local mobile internet level with advanced data, information, and communication technology solutions. Artificial intelligence is a hot topic of this year's Science and Technology Festival. Participants discussed topics such as the popularization and application of artificial intelligence technology in Africa, governance and regulation, and the creation of localized artificial intelligence solutions in Africa. Huawei showcased its business practices and product solutions in areas such as networks, services, and software under the theme of "Accelerating the Way to a Smart World", and jointly issued the "Joint Communique on AI Infrastructure Construction and Talent Development in Africa" with African countries. The relevant person in charge of Huawei South Africa stated that Huawei continues to promote the development of connectivity technology in Africa, while using infrastructure such as cloud and data centers to assist in regional digital transformation. Yao Siyang, General Manager of China Unicom International Limited in Africa, stated that the telecommunications industry and other fields in Africa have enormous growth potential and contain numerous development opportunities, attracting more and more enterprises to expand their business here. This is the fourth time the company has participated in the African Science and Technology Festival, bringing intelligent solutions from Chinese enterprises and continuously expanding its influence in the African market. At the Honor booth, intelligent terminal products such as smartphones with AI capabilities, string less smart guitars, and chess robots attracted numerous visitors to experience. The trend of digital transformation in Africa is particularly evident in the field of smart terminal devices. By the end of 2024, the market share of smartphones in Africa will surpass that of feature phones for the first time. We will equip our entire product line with AI technologies such as image processing and real-time translation to promote inclusive development of digital technology. ”Zhou Lefeng, General Manager of Honor Terminal Co., Ltd. in the South African market, stated that the company is highly optimistic about the prospects of the African market and is actively cooperating with Chinese intelligent manufacturing enterprises to bring more smart home devices to the African market, allowing African consumers to enjoy the convenience brought by digital technology. (New Society)