MARKHAM, ON – Bell and Telus are partnering with Chinese networking and telecommunications equipment supplier Huawei on two joint innovation centres that will focus on advancements in wireless.
The location of the centres or the number of jobs that could be created were not made available as part of Monday’s announcement. Huawei opened a Canadian research and development centre just outside of Ottawa last April.
“Huawei played a key role in the introduction of Bell’s world-leading HSPA+ network, and we’re confident this Joint Innovation Centre will create further breakthrough products and services that keep both companies at the forefront of mobile communications technology,” said Stephen Howe, Bell’s EVP and chief technology officer, in the announcement.
Bell said that it will collaborate with Huawei on “developing and enhancing broadband wireless solutions, core network products and value-added service offerings”.
“Through this new Innovation Centre agreement with Bell, we will offer an enhanced suite of business and technology benefits to our growing Canadian customer base,” said Charles Ding, president of Huawei North America. “Strengthening our support of Bell’s mobile innovation and investment strategy helps us at Huawei to achieve greater heights in sales, knowledge transfer and product development. We are privileged to strengthen our commitment to Canada and our customers in this joint initiative with Bell.”
Telus also announced plans to create and maintain a Canadian joint innovation center in Canada with Huawei where the two companies will work together on “enhancing broadband solutions, wireless and wireline offerings”. The three year agreement will see each company own 50% of the facility.
“This unique partnership arrangement provides Telus with the ability to quickly turn our best ideas into valuable products and services for our clients,” said Ibrahim Gedeon, Telus’ chief technology officer, in the announcement. “It also demonstrates the value of our choice of Huawei in terms of the right strategic partner for now and into the future.”
“By joining forces with Telus, we are able to introduce a broad range of benefits to Canada,” Ding continued. “Not only are we providing unrivalled opportunities to deliver the latest wireless and broadband technologies to Canadians, we are also supporting the local industry with the development of a world-class innovation center. We are honored to strengthen our commitment to Canada in announcing this joint initiative with Telus.”
