ZTE secures China Mobile expansion contract

July 17, 2017

Telecoms equipment maker ZTE has won 34% of the tender for China Mobile’s third-round 3G expansion.

The tender covers 200 mainland cities and is part of China Mobile’s $59 billion roll-out of 3G TD-SCDMA networks across 70% of China’s mainland.

In the previous two rounds, ZTE secured 36% of the contracts.

ZTE said China Mobile ranked the company first in terms of technology and service, adding that it is “confident” of increasing its share of the tender to at least 36%.

Other Chinese vendors also scored high, with Huawei Technologies taking 22% of the third round tender, and Datang Mobile Communications Equipment winning 16%

Ericsson, FiberHome, New Postcom, Nokia Siemens Networks,and Potevio grabbed about 5% to 6% each.

China Mobile, the world’s largest operator by subscriber numbers, holds exclusive rights to operate TD-SCDMA in China.

ZTE is the world’s sixth-largest mobile phone maker, and aims to enter the top three within the next five years.