Pioneering leaders in the world of professional communication technologies recently converged at the Hytera Global Partner Summit (HGPS) in Cape Town for the first-ever Hytera summit on African soil, a successful event heralding the dawn of a new era of innovation in professional communication technologies on the continent.
Yelin Jiang, CEO at Hytera, said at the summit that the global leader in professional communications technologies and solutions, with 90 offices worldwide serving 120 countries, chose South Africa because of the strides made in the country, as well as Hytera’s significant progress in the South African market, particularly in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
This, he said, made South Africa a successful choice, especially for first-time African visitors who came to the Summit to learn about the cutting-edge strides made in the field of communications.
Mark Zheng, managing director for Hytera Southern Africa, echoed those sentiments, referencing key South African case studies that were showcased at the summit.
He says public safety stands poised to receive a significant boost.
“Dedicated professionals throughout South Africa stand poised for immediate response, ensuring safety across diverse landscapes through reliable communication technologies, including mission-critical push-to-talk, video dispatch, and real-time location awareness. These innovations enhance accessibility and impact. In critical moments, swift and reliable communication is paramount, enabling effective action and safety,” he says.
Mark Zheng says Hytera is also investing in a training academy and technical certification in the country.
“Training programmes in South Africa include online learning, bi-weekly webinars, specialised certification training, and customised sessions, along with the inaugural 2025 Technical Competition. E-learning is facilitated on the Hytera partner portal which offers integrated solutions and management capabilities – we have seen a 79.8% pass rate to date with over 100 engineers receiving certificates as expert technicians,” he says.
He says that in addition to public safety, the Summit also looked at the mining sector. Mark Zheng says:
“There are a number of challenges inherent in a mining environment, encompassing above-ground and underground operations, dust-laden environments, signal refraction, and interference. Worker safety remains paramount, alongside the increasing demand for integrated voice, data, and video communications.”
He says that delegates at the Summit were shown that prior to technology selection, it is pertinent to understand the contemporary trends within the mining industry.
“These include the proliferation of IoT sensors, necessitating comprehensive system monitoring and control across expansive sites. Reliable backhaul connectivity for data is crucial. Scalable infrastructure is imperative to accommodate the addition of new systems as mines evolve. Furthermore, there is heightened scrutiny concerning environmental, social, and governance factors, necessitating improved worker safety and reduced emissions. Critical voice communication remains essential for emergency dispatch. The industry’s trajectory toward automation necessitates real-time data and video transmission, supported by a robust network. These factors collectively drive the digital transformation of modern mining operations.
“Case studies we shared, such as the Anglo American Kolomela Mine project, demonstrate the efficacy of Hytera solutions. In this instance, a Hytera TETRA system replaced legacy PMR equipment, resolving signal interference and congestion issues. The new system enhanced uptime and provided seamless integration with the existing infrastructure.”
Mark Zheng explains that each mining environment is unique, and that this is where specialised support needs to land on a solution that’s right for each context. “For example, DMR offers affordability, TETRA ensures safety and mission-critical capabilities, and LTE provides high data capacity. Hytera believes the future encompasses converged solutions.”
Looking ahead
Stanley Song, Vice President of Hytera, officially introduced the Hytera Secure Efficient Intelligent System (HySEIS) during the summit, marking a key milestone in Hytera’s innovation journey.
He says that the Summit afforded Hytera the opportunity to formally launch new products and services that he believes will provide critical support for key sectors in Africa, including public safety, mining, game farms, utilities and more.
“HySElS is a self-developed smart safety management system that we launched at the Summit. HySElS creates a safe and smart technology ecosystem to support more efficient, more intelligent, and safer communications,” he says.
He explains that HySEIS is designed to establish a tri-layered architecture that connects users, terminals, and backend management.
“By integrating innovative technologies, high-quality products, and a strong sense of social responsibility, HySEIS showcases Hytera’s multidimensional technological competitiveness — delivering a green, secure, efficient, and intelligent experience. Ultimately, HySEIS aims to deliver safer product services, higher operational efficiency, and a smarter, more convenient user experience.”
He says that this follows hot on the heels of the business’s launch at the end of April of version 2.5 of its Commercial AP and BP series, representing an exciting moment for radio technology.
“A primary focus of this update is to enhance the receiver sensitivity and overall interference rejection capabilities of these radios. By incorporating new, cutting-edge technology and a redesigned antenna system, we have successfully increased the communication distance achievable with these devices. Beyond range improvements, this version 2.5 also introduces highly anticipated features.
“Notably, for our S-series commercial radios, we have implemented a channel copy functionality, designed to streamline and simplify the often time-consuming process of radio programming,” he explains.
Stanley Song adds that Hytera is transitioning from primarily transactional models to service-based models.
He says this shift allows customers to procure services and capabilities rather than purchasing equipment outright.
“We are introducing five key service-based models: Software as a Service (SaaS), managed services, terminal rental or leasing, enhanced maintenance contracts, and hybrid models that combine transactional and service-based approaches,” he says.
Another exciting development is Hytera’s Robot Dog, which offers impressive capabilities.
“For extended operations, it features Hytera’s deployable communications, video, and AI capabilities on the quadruped robot platform. It is exciting to note that equipped with powerful facial recognition, the robot dog can autonomously patrol designated areas, identify known suspects, trigger alerts to a central command station, and even enable one-way emergency broadcasts if needed… Powered by AI, this integrated solution can assist public safety agencies in addressing potential risks early on. It enables faster responses and allows for proactive intervention before a problem escalates into a full-blown crisis,” he explains.
All in all, explains Stanley Song, Africa is poised to enjoy a significant boost in mission-critical communications.
“The Summit was a success and we are ecstatic to continue our great friendship with the continent and bring more of our technology to more important players across industries,” he says.
