US Ban on Huawei: Impact of Trump's executive order on South African consumers

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Europe

02:14

The White House's recent moves against Huawei have prompted Google to suspend its Android smartphone services to the Chinese tech company. Huawei is the world's second largest smartphone manufacturer. CGTN's Angelo Coppola takes a look at the impact this is likely to have on South Africa, and the rest of the continent.

Huawei users around the world, and in South Africa were left panicked when tech giant Google announced it will no longer avail its Android operating system to the Chinese phone maker.

TOBY SHAPSHAK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, STUFF "Huawei is already the second largest smartphone supplier in South Africa, and they sell an enormous amount of phones, high end, mid-range and low end. People are not sure whether Google Services, and the things we're talking about are apps like Gmail and Maps, and photos, those kinds of things. People don't know whether those are going to work."

South Africa saw a 7% increase in smartphone sales in 2018 - Huawei showed the strongest growth. The Chinese manufacturer has been given a 90-day reprieve. But uncertainty over its relationship status with Google may hamper future sales.

DOBEK PATER ANALYST, AFRICA ANALYSIS "If we come to a worst case scenario where Huawei needs to terminate its relationship with Google, needs to introduce effectively, probably its own operating system, its own platform or continue using the Open Source Android which is not supported by Google, and it has its certain problems, then it could be problematic for owners of Huawei devices."

Several other companies in the US and other parts of the world are considering cutting ties with Huawei. But it's unlikely that mobile operators on the continent will follow suit.

DOBEK PATER ANALYST, AFRICA ANALYSIS "Huawei technology is so engrained in many networks in Africa. So for operators to start trying to replace Huawei with historical technology and also limit its 5G deployment would be very costly, and I don't think they're prepared to go there."

ANGELO COPPOLA JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA "While this is a global trade war, the impacts on Africa and South Africa are yet to be felt. It's early days yet, but certainly, those consumers are going to feel some of this pain. I'm Angelo Coppola for CGTN in Johannesburg."