WhereIsAtlas · Telecommunications

Huawei

The Chinese telecom giant that built much of the world's 5G — then became the centre of a global political storm

Transformed — A giant in telecom equipment and smartphones that got caught in the crossfire of a US-China tech cold war — the US and several allies moved to bar it from 5G networks, and sanctions cut its consumer business sharply.

Huawei was founded in 1987 in Shenzhen, China, and grew over three decades into one of the world's largest makers of telecom equipment and smartphones. Its low-cost, high-quality network gear helped carriers around the world — including in Europe, Africa and much of Asia — build 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks. Its consumer arm also produced a popular line of smartphones that competed directly with Apple and Samsung.

In the late 2010s, however, Huawei became the focal point of a mounting US-China technology confrontation. US officials raised security concerns about Chinese involvement in 5G networks, warning that Huawei equipment could represent a surveillance or espionage risk. A series of US actions followed: Huawei was placed on a US trade blacklist, its access to American technology and chips was restricted, and the US pressed allies to exclude it from their 5G networks. In response, Huawei lost access to key components and its international smartphone business contracted sharply.

Huawei is still a major force in Chinese telecom and has continued to develop its own chips and software in response to the sanctions — a move seen as emblematic of China's push for technology self-sufficiency. But its position in the global 5G market is now a contested and politically charged one.

Quick facts

Founded
1987, Shenzhen, China
Founder
Ren Zhengfei
Core
Telecom equipment + smartphones
Rise
Built much of the world's 4G and 5G
The storm
US 5G security concerns + sanctions (late 2010s)
Response
Pushed toward self-developed chips and software
Today
Still a Chinese telecom giant, now politically contested

Sources

Related: linksys · intel