S’wak explores tech collabs with Ericsson, ZTE at at Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona

Liwan (fifth left) and others at the meeting with Ericsson in Barcelona, Spain, on Mar 2, 2026. Photo: Ukas

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Mar 2: A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak (MUT) held discussions with technology companies Ericsson and ZTE on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 today in Barcelona, Spain, to explore potential areas of collaboration.

According to the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), the meeting with Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company Ericsson, led by Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Liwan Lagang, sought potential collaboration in telecommunications, smart utilities, digital platforms, and capability building, drawing on innovations and global insights presented at MWC 2026.

“The engagement has provided a platform to explore potential collaborations, facilitate knowledge exchange, and learn from global best practices in telecommunications, digital infrastructure and intelligent network technologies showcased at this premier global forum,” said Liwan during the meeting.

He also underscored the State’s ambition to emerge as a digitally advanced economy and regional innovation hub.

In line with the aspirations of the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, he said Sarawak is actively forging strategic partnerships to advance its digital transformation agenda, which includes strengthening resilient, high-quality connectivity, rolling out smart utility systems, and embracing artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-based and data-driven solutions, while also cultivating future-ready digital talent.

At the same time, he recognised Ericsson as a global leader in information and communications technology, with extensive expertise in 5G, AI-powered networks, cloud-native technologies, and intelligent infrastructure.

Present at the meeting were the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Ericsson Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, David Hagebro; Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) chairman, Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani; SDEC board member, Dato Ir Janang Bungsu; MUT deputy permanent secretary, Syed Mohamad Fauzi Shahab; general manager of Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), Dato Dr Anderson Tiong Ing Heng; SDEC CEO, Dato Ir Ts Sudarnoto Osman; and SMD Semiconductor CEO, Shariman Jamil.

Liwan (second left) and others at the meeting with ZTE in Barcelona, Spain, on Mar 2, 2026. Photo: Ukas

Meanwhile, in the meeting with ZTE, which is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, and is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions, and mobile devices, he said the company’s track record in delivering large-scale networks and intelligent platforms across diverse markets offers valuable insights for Sarawak as it strengthens its digital and utility ecosystems.

“Their experience in enabling AI-powered connectivity, expanding broadband access, and supporting sustainable development aligns with Sarawak’s priorities, particularly in enhancing resilience, promoting inclusivity and advancing our digital economy,” he said during the meeting.

Present at the engagement were ZTE vice president and general manager of bearer network product line, Li Qiang; ZTE Malaysia Government & Enterprise account director, Benny Li; Syed Mohamad; and Tiong. — DayakDaily