Iran Press/ Africa: Google's decision to withhold its Android software from Huawei is being seen as the beginning of a technology cold war that could compel African countries in the future to choose between US and the Chinese technology.
According to Iran Press, Google barred the world’s second biggest smartphone maker, Huawei, from some updates to the Android operating system, dealing a blow to the Chinese company. The decision by Google mainly affects the company’s future smart phone releases, which could lose access to crucial Android services, including Google Play, Maps and the Gmail app.
This came after the US administration added Huawei to the list of companies that American firms cannot trade with, unless they have a license.
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Most Africans connecting to the internet today are likely to be using a Chinese smartphone, powered by a Chinese-built network, and at least half of the time, it was built by Chinese tech giant, Huawei.
Huawei which currently operates in 40 African countries, has built at least 50% of Africa’s 4G network.It also provides technology for smart city projects, runs several research partnerships, and is the fourth major smartphone seller in the continent.
The US campaign could spark what Eric Schmidt, Google's former CEO, predicted would be the inevitable bifurcation of the internet, between a "Chinese-led internet and a non-Chinese internet led by America".
"This is probably the time Africa considers developing its own technologies relevant to its market instead of being passive consumers. I want to see African countries come together and push back against this creeping digital colonization," Harriet Kariuki, a Sino-African relations specialist, told the BBC on May 27.
According to technology research firm IDC, Huawei is currently the fourth biggest smartphone seller in Africa, behind another Chinese company, Transsion, which makes the Tecno and Infinix brands, and Samsung.
The company, which opened its first office in Africa in 1998, also has built most of Africa's 4G internet network; Huawei is heavily involved in the rollout of 5G technology in the continent, including South Africa, partnering with most network operators. The South African government announced that it does not intend to change its behavior towards Huawei, which is the second biggest seller of smartphones in the country.
The Trump administration has allegedly claimed that Huawei's smartphones and network equipment can be used by China to spy on Americans, allegations the company has repeatedly denied.
Despite heavy US campaign against the Chinese giant, some experts believe the current internet and technology boom in Africa is in significant part because of the investment of Chinese tech companies; Africa has already picked a side, and it is China. 203/212
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