Ekurhuleni powers up with Huawei’s wi-fi 7 & security for digital transformation

The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), a core economic hub in Gauteng, is accelerating its digital future. However, its progress was hampered by an outdated and insecure wireless network across its electric power campuses. Facing slow Wi-Fi 5 technology, high operational costs, and critical data security risks, the municipality embarked on a major network overhaul.

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The solution came through a partnership with Huawei, deploying their Xinghe Intelligent High-Quality 10 Gbps Campus Network Solution. This transformation directly addressed three core challenges: speed, security, and management, setting a new benchmark for municipal infrastructure in South Africa.

Challenge: An Outdated Network Holding Back a Digital City

The CoE’s electric power department was struggling with a legacy network infrastructure that could not support modern digital services. Key issues included:

• Slow Speeds & Poor Coverage: Outdated Wi-Fi 5 equipment resulted in weak signals and dead zones, severely impacting staff productivity.
• Inefficient Manual O&M: Troubleshooting thousands of network devices manually was time-consuming and drove up operational costs.
• Critical Security Gaps: The outdated infrastructure posed a significant data breach risk, a primary concern for senior officials managing vital power assets.

Solution: A Future-Proof 10 Gbps Network Foundation

Leveraging Huawei’s cutting-edge technology, the CoE built a new network centered on three transformative pillars:

1. Lightning-Fast Wi-Fi 7 Access Boosts Office Efficiency

To eliminate connectivity bottlenecks, the CoE deployed next-generation Wi-Fi 7 technology. This provides high-speed wireless access and ubiquitous coverage across the campus, laying a robust foundation for current and future business applications and dramatically improving office efficiency.

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2. Pioneering “Wi-Fi Shield” Secures Critical Power Data

Understanding that wireless signals are vulnerable, the CoE implemented Huawei’s innovative Wi-Fi Shield technology. This security solution works by having an Access Point (AP) precisely locate a target user. When transmitting data, it simultaneously emits a randomized noise signal. The legitimate user receives a clear signal, while anyone outside the immediate, precise location only intercepts the persistent noise, rendering the data unreadable and effectively preventing eavesdropping.

This technology has been deployed at outdoor toll stations and key office areas, securing sensitive data against interception and unauthorized access.

3. A Digital Map Enhances O&M with Full Visibility

To tackle operational inefficiency, the CoE adopted Huawei’s campus network digital map. This intelligent platform provides full visibility of the network, enabling centralized device management, visual fault diagnosis, and unified O&M. The result is a significant boost in management efficiency and a major reduction in operational costs.

Impact: A New Benchmark for Municipal Digital Infrastructure

The successful construction of the CoE’s high-quality 10 Gbps electric power campus network has created a powerful blueprint for other government entities. By solving critical challenges in speed, security, and management, the project is poised to inspire a wave of innovation in secure and intelligent campus network development across the region.