Multinational ICT services and solutions firm Huawei plans to launch a cloud-based video solution, Envision Video Platform, at AfricaCom 2017 in Cape Town this month. The solution is designed to assist carriers to develop and optimise video as a service, and optimise video streaming based on network conditions.

According to Huawei the Envision Video solution will support technologies including the latest 4K/UHD (Ultra High Definition), virtual reality and augmented reality, to up the quality of video and enable user interaction.

"By releasing this platform during AfricaCom, we want to deliver a message to operators and our partners, that in this golden era for video business, especially 4K video; we are ready and capable of helping them shape their video strategies to drive new revenue," says David Chen, Director of Marketing & Solution Sales of Huawei Southern Africa Region.

In line with its theme for the event, 'roads to new growth', the company will also use its participation to host the local launch of its flagship smartphone in the Mate 10 series, powered by the Al Kirin 970 chipset.

Huawei has confirmed that the release of the latest devices within its Mate 10 Series, including Huawei Mate 10 Pro and Porsche Design Huawei Mate 10 models, will be focused on the South African market for now.

In a preview of the phones ahead of their official launch in November, Huawei's Product Marketing Director Akhram Mohamed explained that at this time, the company wanted to concentrate its go-to-market strategy within South Africa and not in the rest of Africa.

"Not at the moment for this product specifically and purely because, even historically in South Africa, we have quite a bit of equity in the P Series and the Mate Series didn't quite fit in, because of, I think, a lack of understanding of where it fitted into the portfolio. This time we are doing it completely differently and coming in with a higher spec device," said Mohamed.

Likun Zhao, GM, Huawei Consumer Business Group SA, said, "We are delighted to bring the Mate 10 Pro and the Porsche Design Mate 10 to South Africa as we believe these devices will cater for the South African consumer needs as we enter the age of AI."

2017 marks the 20th anniversary of AfricaCom and organisers of the event have announced the new exhibition hall, the Technology Arena, which it says is dedicated to future tech trends, new content stages, networking features and live demos.