Huawei signs cloud/IoT partnerships with Deutsche Telekom, SAP

Deutsche Telekom (DT) and Huawei have announced an IT and cloud partnership at the computer expo CeBIT 2015. The two firms said the deal will see Huawei provide its hardware and solutions expertise to combine with DT’s systems integrator arm T-Systems’ cloud experience.

According to T-Systems Director of IT, Ferri Abolhassan the partnership is part of the company’s strategy in becoming a cloud technology leader. “We are bringing together strengths from two continents: T-Systems’ technology and quality leadership in cloud services, and Huawei’s cutting-edge technology and solution expertise,” he said.

Further to hardware and software provision, the partners also plan to collaborate on developing solutions for private cloud computing, as well as on projects for traditional IT infrastructures to be migrated to cloud. With this in mind, the firms are demonstrating a customer premise mobile cloud data centre at DT’s stand at the CeBIT 2015.

“We are delighted that we are able to expand our partnership with Deutsche Telekom and its business customers arm T-Systems in such a powerful way,” said Ryan Ding, Huawei President, Products & Solutions. “We have been working together for years on network components, which has given us a leading position in Europe and beyond. Now we are also combining our know-how and cutting-edge technology in IT infrastructures and private cloud. This is a milestone in Huawei’s success story.”

Eva Wimmers, Senior Vice President of Group Procurement at DT said: “Deutsche Telekom is reinforcing its vendor-independence and, as of now, also offering IT products from Huawei at the best conditions in terms of price, service and quality. Huawei has convinced us, technologically and commercially. This increases our global competitiveness and makes us particularly strong for small and medium-sized customers.”

Meanwhile, in what could be an indication of a bit of a partnering fever Huawei has also announced an agreement with German IT software giant SAP to collaborate on the Internet of Things. The Chinese vendor said the two firms aim to establish a technical collaboration to advance the research on the IoT.

The companies are planning to integrate Huawei’s ICT infrastructure and connectivity solutions with SAP HANA cloud platform, applications and analytic tools. Initially the idea is develop solutions targeted at the manufacturing, smart energy and transportation sectors in Greater China and across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“Huawei and SAP complement each other: Huawei offers extensive experience in ICT infrastructure while SAP, amongst others, focuses on the development of an open platform and enterprise software,” Bernd Leukert, SAP Executive Board Member said. We believe that technological collaborations that integrate our companies’ expertise will enable us to create enriched enterprise solutions and bring even greater value to customers in China, Europe and emerging markets.”

Huawei was keen to stress it sees this partnership as part of the ‘Industry 4.0’ industrial revolution where ICT is used to integrate cyber-virtual and cyber-physical systems to support the creation of the smart factory.

“Together, we are striving to develop a model of China-Europe cooperation,” William Xu, Huawei Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer said. “Following the two companies’ collaboration on SAP HANA running on SAP-certified Huawei hardware, joint contact centre, big data, smart cities and bring your own device (BYOD), the establishment of the SAP-Huawei joint innovation efforts and partnership on Industry 4.0 and IoT is marking a new milestone for our strategic alliance.”

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