In a strategic move to fortify its global economic position, Huawei Technologies is gearing up to construct a state-of-the-art mobile phone network equipment factory in Brumath, near Strasbourg, France. Originally outlined in 2020, the ambitious plans faced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but recent reports indicate that the initiative is back on track.

The Chinese tech giant has invested a substantial 200 million euros (US$215.28 million) in the project, showcasing its commitment to establishing a manufacturing presence in Europe despite challenges in certain markets. The construction, set to kick off in 2024, marks a significant milestone for Huawei’s expansion strategy in the region.

According to a French government source, the facility is anticipated to be operational by 2025, contributing to local economic growth and employment opportunities. However, given the delays in construction commencement, there is speculation that the timeline for completion might be adjusted accordingly.

The decision to build the factory comes against the backdrop of the French government’s stance on Huawei’s 5G equipment licenses. In 2020, the government communicated to telecom operators that they could not renew Huawei 5G licenses upon expiration, signaling a move to phase out Huawei from mobile networks in the country. However, recent developments indicate an extension of Huawei 5G licenses in some cities following a meeting between French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and China’s Vice-Premier He Lifeng.

This move by Huawei aligns with broader debates among European leaders on how to “de-risk” while maintaining cooperation with China. Despite security concerns leading to restrictions on Huawei and ZTE equipment in some European countries, the construction of the French manufacturing plant signifies Huawei’s determination to strengthen its European presence.

The project’s financial investment and employment plans are noteworthy, with Huawei expecting to employ 300 individuals at the facility’s launch, with future projections reaching 500 employees in the long term.

As Huawei proceeds with the construction, the company has chosen to remain silent on specific details about the project. Future updates are eagerly anticipated, promising more insights into the factory’s exact timeline and potential benefits for the region as Huawei continues to make strides in its global expansion efforts.

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Canalys has released a couple of report showing the performance of the key smartphone manufacturers in the European market. Of particular interest is the performance of Huawei. The Chinese phone maker had shifted focus to Europe after the US shut it off the North American market. However, the recent ban which prevented the company from using Google Services seems to have continued to take its toll as the report shows Huawei recorded up to 31% decline in its annual growth even though it still maintains the fourth position in the European market ranking.

Samsung maintains its lead in the market even though it recorded a slender 3% annual growth. The Korean tech giant commands a 34% share of the European smartphone market, according to the report. U.S tech giant Apple is in the second position with an estimated market share of 19% in Q3 2020.

Xiaomi maintains the number 3 spot with an estimated 19% share of the market, the same with Apple. Canalys reports that Xiaomi’s market share represents a staggering 91% annual growth. However, the biggest growth recorded in the report is OPPO’s ascent into the top 5 European smartphone vendors with a 3% share of the market. The performance represents a 396% annual growth for the Chinese phone maker.

In Western Europe, the chart remains essentially the same with that of the entire European market but most of OPPO’s sales seem to have come from Western Europe where it recorded an annual growth of 942%. 

However, Xiaomi emerges as the top smartphone vendor in Spain with a 34% share of the market. Samsung ranks second with 26% market share while Huawei’s 15% market share places it in the third position. OPPO jumps to the fourth position with an 8% market share while Apple drops to the fifth position with a 7% market share. Apple’s market share is expected to rebound post-iPhone 12 release in the fourth quarter.

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In October this year, regulators in Sweden announced a ban on the use of telecommunications equipment from Chinese providers, Huawei and ZTE. The Swedish regulator has given companies taking part in 5G spectrum auctions until January 1, 2025 to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from their existing infrastructure and core functions. However, according to a report by the Swedish telecoms regulator PTS, Huawei has appealed against the decision to exclude it from 5G networks.

A spokesman for the Swedish telecoms regulator disclosed that the appeal will be sent to the administrative court of Stockholm which would handle the case. Apparently, ZTE is yet to respond to the ban but we expect a similar appeal from the Chinese telecommunications equipment firm.

The ban by Sweden last month re-echoes a similar trend since the US first banned both companies from providing its 5G gears. The US government has also pressured allies in Europe and elsewhere to also ditch Huawei’s equipment on the grounds of security concerns that the equipment could be used by the Chinese government for espionage.

Huawei has continued to deny it would do such and have made efforts to reassure of the integrity of its 5G gears. Responding to the appeal filed in Sweden, Kenneth Fredriksen, Huawei’s Executive Vice President, Central East Europe and Nordic Region, disclosed to Reuters that the company thought the decision taken by the Swedish government was not good for customers nor for Sweden in general. The company is thus, hoping that the Swedish court would x-ray the matter and reach a decision whether the ban has been carried out through a proper process and in accordance with the law.

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Huawei is all set to build its first manufacturing line in France, according to a senior executive of the Chinese tech giant stated. The move will be in line with the company’s plans for expanding in the region whilst also providing 5G networking. It is also seen as an act to ease tensions with the US, which has previously accused Huawei of spying using its telecommunications equipment.

The Chairman of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, Liang Hua, mentioned that the company will be investing 200 million Euros (roughly 217 million US Dollars) in the first phase of setting up the mobile base station plant. The new plant is expected to create about 500 new jobs in the area. Huawei has denied all counts of accusations from various governments regarding the safety of its telecommunication tools and equipment. However, the US is adamant regarding its position against the company amidst the US-China trade disputes.

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Currently, 5G networking is seen as the new hallmark for developed countries, causing many to join the bandwidth advancement race. Currently, Huawei is one of the pioneers in this networking field, especially 5G, but has difficulties operating in the Western regions like the US and certain European countries as well. In a new conference, Liang Hua said that “This site will supply the entire European market, not just France’s. Our group’s activities are worldwide and for this we need a global industrial footprint.”

In other words, despite opening a manufacturing plant in France, it will target the entire European market. Furthermore, it will also aim to have a more dominant impact in the area and the global market through its new expansion since Huawei operates worldwide. 5G network is a crucial aspect of the new advancements and will be the tie that binds various IoT devices, smart home appliances, and smartphones, all of which are also provided by the company itself.

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We have seen several market research firms reel out their analytic data for the global smartphone market for 2018. First, it was Strategy Analytics, then Counterpoint Research and then the International Data Corporation (IDC). Yet another report has been released this time from Kantar Worldpanel.

The first which describes itself as a “global expert in shoppers’ behaviour” shed some interesting insight into new industry trends across key regions like Western Europe, urban China, and the US. The data is for the period spanning October to December 2018 and focuses on smartphone OS.  The data shows that Huawei continues to saunter on in Europe despite recent controversies and spying suspicions as these have had a minimal impact on the Chinese firm’s European business. Both the Huawei and Honor branded mobile phones are making waves in the old continent.

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Apart from Huawei, another Chinese brand which is shown to make tremendous progress in Europe is Xiaomi. The company had recently expanded to major countries like Spain, Italy, and France, boosting the brand to the number four position in Europe’s top-selling chart. Samsung still remains a force to reckon with, contributing largely to the 75% market share Android smartphones enjoyed in Q4 2018 across the five biggest European markets, consistently shrinking the share of Apple’s iOS. On Apple, the market data shows that Apple’s market share continues to rise in the US, its major stronghold. The iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, and iPhone X were the most popular devices on store shelves, according to Kantar’s latest research. The iPhone XS Max also commanded an impressive performance in urban China, ranking fourth overall, while the Honor 8X was ranked as the overall at the top of the chart.

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Chinese tech giant  Huawei is likely having quite a good run in the smartphone market presently. A recent report by Counterpoint research showed Huawei beat Apple to clinch the second spot in overall global cellphone shipments in the month of June and July 2017 with a treble looking possible in the month of August 2017. The report shows that Samsung, Apple, and Huawei are still the top three smartphone vendors in the world with Samsung still retaining its position as the global leader with a stronger showing in the month of June.

While the feat isn’t expected to last long, Huawei seems to have the potential to continue its drive for the top. A recent research data compiled by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech reveals that Huawei’s progress in July was almost scuttled by strong showing by Samsung and Sony  but the Chinese market leader rallied round and emerged alongside Sony as the best performers in the five largest markets in Europe during this period. While Sony held a market share of 4.8%, Huawei recorded a market share of 14.6%. Despite this, Huawei’s share in Great Britain and Germany fell over those three months, primarily due to Samsung and Sony’s new entry-level and mid-range offerings which are extremely value-oriented. The Chinese tech giant still managed to maintain its dominant position by increasing its performance in Italy and Germany, which led to an increase in its EU5 market share by 2.2 percentage compared to the same period last year.

Samsung continued dominating the U.S. market during the period under consideration with a market share of 36.2 percent, closely followed by Apple with over 34 percent of the market share. The iPhone 7 was still the most successful smartphone in mid-2017, accounting for 12.6 percent sales in the U.S., with the Galaxy S8 lineup placing second with 8.8 percentage points of all sales in the country.

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The final quarter of the year is traditionally the most lucrative period for consumer electronics manufacturers, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 and Apple’s new flagship lineup which is made up of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and the bezel-free iPhone X will likely surpass Huawei’s models in terms of sales. The release of Apple’s latest offerings is also expected to challenge Samsung’s overall position in the U.S. market, Apple’s stronghold. But Huawei is expected to continue its push for the top with the Mate 10 and other products coming out before the end of the year.

(source, via)

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Huawei is one of the leading technological companies from China. The company has shown its immense potential to the world by its modern and technological products. The China based company Huawei has been destined as a safety risk in the US and Australia. Now, the Chinese giant is conducting a recruitment drive in European countries for its research and development division. This news of European recruitment drive has been revealed by the President, French subordinate of the Huawei.

Francois Quentin has told the media that the company is planning to double the workforce in the research and development in the coming two to three years. Currently there are around 800 people working in the research and development division of the Huawei in Europe. France will be the major focus for the recruitment of new staff. Around 200 people will be employed as new staff members. Designers and applied mathematicians will also be the part of this new staff of Huawei. The company has 17 research and development centres in around eight countries of Europe. Germany, Italy and Finland have the research sites of Huawei. The company is supposed to take up 13,000 people by 2017.

Two months back, International Data Corp, has ranked this Chinese giant at number three position in the race of smartphone makers in the world by sales. Samsung of South Korea and USA based Apple were the only names ahead of Huawei.

US and Australia have considered the company as a risk to their security because of the alleged somewhat close links of Huawei to the government of China. But the company completely denies allegations of any such involvements.

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