Huawei scores 50 5G contracts despite US pressure
Huawei has closed over 50 contracts with mobile carriers all over the world for 5G network.
The company, which made the announcement on Tuesday, is now ahead of of rivals Nokia and Ericsson when it comes to contract wins for 2019.
It scored the deals despite significant pressure from the US on mobile carriers and governments around the world to curb trading with Huawei over concerns that the Chinese telecommunications giant engages in illegal surveillance through its equipment and networks, leading to it being blocked from markets such as Japan and Australia.
Although the UK had yet to take a decision, EE, one of Britain’s biggest mobile networks, had already said that it would work with Huawei on rolling out 5G.
The US said Huawei posed security risks regarding its involvement in the new 5G network because it believes the firm could build backdoors into its networking equipment to allow the Chinese government to spy on Americans. Huawei has repeatedly denied this accusation.
“Huawei’s 5G products are world leading products, with the highest level of maturity in terms of commercialization. And Huawei will continue to develop its 5G technology steadily,” William Xu, one of Huawei’s board directors, told CNBC in a Mandarin interview on Tuesday.
When asked about the looming ban in the UK, Xu said he was not worried. “We are not concerned about it, because a smooth implementation with EE will play an exemplary role,” he told CNBC.
Huawei was also facing restrictions after being placed on a US government blacklist, a move that was expected to seriously curtail American firms from doing business with the company.
Indeed, it had forced the manufacturer to not include Google's Android operating system on its latest model, the Mate 30.
Xu said he “welcomes US companies and suppliers to continue in providing their products and components to Huawei.” Asked what would happen if those companies could not supply Huawei over the longer term, Xu said it was already happening but that the company continued to grow.
“What you suggest has already happened. But against these circumstances, Huawei’s business remains robust and stable."