Huawei

Huawei Corporation

File:Huawei logo.svg Huawei logo
Company type	Private
Industry	Telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, autonomous driving systems, solar power solutions
Founded	January 1, 1987 (1987-01-01) in Shenzhen, China
Founder	Ren Zhengfei
Headquarters	Longgang, Shenzhen , China
Area served	Worldwide (over 170 countries)
Key people	Ren Zhengfei (Founder)
Products	Telecommunications equipment, smartphones, autonomous driving systems for electric vehicles, solar power solutions
Parent	None
Website	www.huawei.com

Huawei Corporation ("Huawei";  ; ) is a Chinese multinational corporation and technology company based in Longgang, Shenzhen, Guangdong. The company’s primary offerings encompass telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, autonomous driving systems for electric vehicles, and solar power solutions for rooftops. Established in Shenzhen in 1987 by Ren Zhengfei, a former officer of the People's Liberation Army, Huawei originally concentrated on producing phone switches. Over time, it has grown its presence to more than 170 countries, delivering telecommunications network infrastructure, equipment, consulting services, and consumer communication products. In 2012, Huawei surpassed Ericsson to become the leading global manufacturer of telecommunications equipment. It later overtook Apple in 2018 and Samsung in 2020 to claim the position of the world’s largest smartphone maker. As of 2024, telecommunications equipment remains its core business segment, with the Chinese government serving as its biggest client.

Huawei has been accused of intellectual property infringement and has resolved disputes with firms such as Cisco. Its status as a national champion of China has sparked debates regarding state involvement through subsidies and financing, especially amid resistance to its participation in worldwide 5G network deployments. The company’s technology has been connected to extensive surveillance programs targeting Uyghurs in Xinjiang, which has led to sanctions imposed by the United States.

Due to apprehensions about Huawei’s possible connections with Chinese military and intelligence agencies, several nations have imposed bans or restrictions on its equipment citing national security concerns. Although Huawei denies allegations of espionage, analysts highlight Chinese legislation that might obligate cooperation with state intelligence services. In 2012, intelligence agencies from Australia and the US accused Huawei of involvement in hacking a telecom network; however, operators contested these claims.

In January 2018, the US government charged Huawei with breaching sanctions against Iran, resulting in limitations on its dealings with American companies and a Canadian extradition request for CFO Meng Wanzhou. By 2019, Huawei reduced operations at its Santa Clara research facility and considered relocating activities to Canada. Facing US sanctions pressures, Huawei divested its Honor brand to a Shenzhen state-owned enterprise in 2020 to maintain business continuity. In November 2022, the US Federal Communications Commission prohibited the sale or importation of Huawei equipment due to national security issues. This move was followed by comparable bans or restrictions from all Five Eyes countries, India, Japan, and multiple European Union member states.

Name

Founder Ren Zhengfei explained that Huawei originates from the phrase Zhonghua youwei ("China has achievements"), which inspired him during the company's inception. The term Zhonghua or Hua represents China, while youwei conveys meanings such as "promising" or "showing potential." This name has also been interpreted as "splendid achievement" or "China is capable," highlighting its aspirational significance.

In Chinese pinyin, the word is written as Huáwéi, pronounced in Mandarin and as Waa⁴-wai⁴ in Cantonese. Pronunciations differ globally—for instance, it is said as "Hoe-ah-wei" in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Although Huawei considered altering its English name due to international pronunciation challenges, it ultimately retained it and launched a branding initiative encouraging pronunciation closer to "Wah-Way" using the slogan "Wow Way." Ren stated, "We will not change our brand name and will instruct foreigners on how to pronounce it correctly. We must ensure it is not mispronounced like 'Hawaii.'"

Early years

During the 1980s, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and government prioritized upgrading the country's telecommunications infrastructure, focusing specifically on telephone exchange switches. Multiple Chinese research institutions advanced technology through partnerships with foreign enterprises.

Ren Zhengfei, formerly a deputy director in the People's Liberation Army engineering corps, established Huawei in Shenzhen in 1987 with an initial investment of RMB 21,000 (approximately $5,000) contributed by Ren and five partners. These early investors gradually exited, while Huawei reportedly benefited from substantial government assistance such as loans and tax breaks aimed at fostering competition against companies like Apple and Samsung.

Ren concentrated on reverse engineering foreign technologies alongside local engineers. China leveraged expertise from industry leaders like Qualcomm to enter the market. At a time when telecom technology was entirely imported, Ren’s goal was to create a domestic firm capable of competing with international players.

Huawei’s initial business strategy involved reselling private branch exchange (PBX) switches sourced from Hong Kong while heavily investing in research and development to create proprietary technology. By 1990, employing around 600 R&D personnel, Huawei began commercializing PBX switches aimed at hotels and small businesses.

Confronted with strong competition from Alcatel, Lucent, and Nortel Networks, Huawei targeted underserved low-income and remote markets starting in 1992. Its sales team expanded from rural villages into more urbanized regions.

The company achieved a significant milestone in 1993 by launching its C&C08 program-controlled telephone switch, then the most sophisticated switch available in China. By emphasizing service quality and customization in smaller cities and rural markets, Huawei increased its market share and penetrated mainstream sectors.

Huawei secured an important contract to construct the first national telecommunications network for the People's Liberation Army—although modest in revenue, this project was strategically vital. In 1994, Ren met with CCP General Secretary Jiang Zemin to stress that switching equipment technology was crucial for national security; Jiang reportedly concurred.

In the 1990s, Canadian telecom giant Nortel outsourced manufacturing and much of its product engineering to Huawei.

A pivotal moment occurred in 1996 when Beijing implemented policies favoring domestic telecom manufacturers while limiting foreign competitors. The government and military endorsed Huawei as a national champion, prompting the establishment of new R&D centers to accelerate technological innovation.

Foreign market growth

Beginning in the late 1990s, Huawei extended its telecommunications infrastructure throughout sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, entering the African continent in 1998. Over time, it emerged as the foremost Chinese telecom provider within these areas.

In 1997, Huawei won a contract with Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa to supply fixed-line network equipment and introduced wireless GSM services, later broadening its portfolio to include CDMA and UMTS technologies. The company established a research and development center in Bengaluru, India in 1999 to focus on telecom software innovation. During this phase, Huawei capitalized on China's Go Out policy to support its international ventures.

In May 2003, Huawei partnered with 3Com to create the joint venture H3C, specializing in enterprise network hardware. This collaboration marked 3Com's reentry into the high-end router and switch market. Huawei exited the partnership in 2006 when 3Com acquired its stake for US$882 million.

Huawei obtained a $10 billion credit facility from China Development Bank in 2004 to assist overseas clients purchasing its telecom products; this credit was increased to $30 billion by 2009.

By 2005, Huawei’s international contracts had overtaken domestic sales, underscored by a global framework agreement with Vodafone, which made Huawei the first Chinese vendor approved within Vodafone’s worldwide supply chain.

In 2007, Huawei formed a joint venture with US cybersecurity firm Symantec Corporation, named Huawei Symantec, to deliver network data storage and security solutions. Amid concerns from the US government regarding sensitive information access, Huawei acquired full ownership of the venture in 2012.

Australian telecommunications provider Optus teamed up with Huawei in 2008 to launch a technology research center in Sydney. That same year, Huawei contributed to deploying a GSM-based HSPA+ network for Canadian carriers Bell Mobility and Telus Mobility, collaborating with Nokia Siemens Networks. In 2009, Huawei introduced one of the earliest commercial LTE/EPC networks for TeliaSonera in Norway; however, Norway’s Telenor selected Ericsson over Huawei due to security apprehensions.

Huawei entered the Global Fortune 500 list in 2010, reporting annual revenue of US$21.8 billion alongside a net profit of US$2.67 billion.

In October 2012, Huawei moved its UK headquarters to Green Park Business Park in Reading, Berkshire. From 2016 onward, it expanded its presence across Ireland, opening offices in Dublin, Cork, and Westmeath.

In September 2017, Huawei developed a Narrowband IoT urban network integrating IoT, cloud computing, and big data technologies. The company aspires to become one of the top five global cloud service providers.

Starting in 2017, Huawei collaborated with Malaysia’s government on public security and Smart City projects, establishing a dedicated laboratory in Kuala Lumpur and inaugurating the Huawei Malaysia Global Training Centre (MGTC) at Cyberjaya in April 2019.

By 2020, Huawei had constructed nearly 70% of Africa’s 4G infrastructure.

In November 2020, Canadian carrier Telus Mobility ceased using Huawei equipment for its 5G Radio Access Network deployment, opting instead for Samsung, Ericsson, and Nokia technologies.

Huawei in Africa

Since establishing its presence in Kenya in 1998, Huawei has played a significant role in the technological landscape across Africa. Currently, the continent stands as one of Huawei's most substantial international markets.

RuralStar

Huawei introduced RuralStar in 2017 to enhance connectivity in rural locations. This solution employs solar-powered small cell base stations linked through wireless backhaul, facilitating mobile network availability in isolated areas with limited infrastructure requirements.

PEACE Cable

The Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE) submarine cable project commenced production in October 2018 through a collaboration between Huawei and HENGTONG Group. Operational since December 2022, the cable system supports a design capacity of 16Tbit/s per fiber pair.

UNESCO

In February 2023, Huawei became an associate member of the UNESCO Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL). Additionally, it partners with UNESCO’s Global Skills Academy to provide online IT training programs aimed at enhancing practical skillsets.

LEAP

Huawei works alongside the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) via the Leadership, Employability, Advancement, and Possibility (LEAP) initiative to deliver IT training and certification throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Initially set to train 100,000 participants, this target was increased by 150,000 during the LEAP Summit 2024 held in Shanghai. This effort aligns with Huawei’s forecast that digital competencies will be essential for over 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Culture

Huawei Music serves as the default music streaming service on Huawei devices, boasting 32 million daily active users in China as of 2018. That same year marked Huawei’s expansion into African markets, particularly South Africa, where the initial music catalog consisted of 80% local content with plans to incorporate international tracks. The platform has invested substantially in South African artists and cultural events through initiatives such as the Huawei Culture Club, which promotes concerts and DJs. Huawei Music was an official sponsor of Ultra Music Festival 2015, one of Africa’s premier electronic music festivals. By 2020, it collaborated with prominent musicians from Kenya, Nigeria, and across Africa to curate playlists featured on the app, engaging listeners via interactive voting.

Recent performance

By 2018, Huawei had sold 200 million smartphones globally. The company’s revenue hit US$122 billion in 2019. By the second quarter of 2020, Huawei overtook Samsung as the world’s leading smartphone vendor. In 2021, it ranked second worldwide for R&D investment according to the EU Joint Research Centre and placed fifth globally for US patent filings based on Fairview Research data.

Nevertheless, international sanctions led to a revenue decline of 32% during Q3 2021. Analyst Linghao Bao observed that Huawei dropped from its position as the second-largest smartphone manufacturer to near collapse. Revenue further decreased by 19.7% year-to-date by Q3 2022. Despite these challenges, Huawei maintained its leadership in global patent filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty for a seventh consecutive year, publishing 6,494 applications in 2023.

By mid-2024, Huawei had rebounded from previous setbacks and resumed growth. Domestic suppliers swiftly replaced most foreign components. Profits surged nearly six times year-over-year in Q1 2024 to almost US$2.7 billion. On June 21, 2024, Huawei announced that HarmonyOS was installed on over 900 million devices, establishing it as China’s second most widely used mobile operating system.

Corporate affairs

Huawei identifies itself as a "collective" organization and, until 2019, avoided labeling itself as a private enterprise. Richard McGregor, author of The Party: The Secret World of China's Communist Rulers, highlighted that this distinction played a key role in Huawei securing government backing during its growth phase. Nonetheless, McGregor raised doubts about whether Huawei truly functions as a collective entity. In 2019, in response to the US government ban, Huawei’s chief legal officer, Dr. Song Liuping, explicitly described the company as "a private company."

Leadership

Ren Zhengfei, who founded Huawei and serves as its CEO, possesses veto authority over decisions made by the board. The company also employs a system of rotating co-CEOs. Huawei publicly revealed its board of directors for the first time in 2010. As of 2019, Liang Hua holds the position of board chair, with the board comprising members such as Guo Ping, Xu Zhijun, Hu Houkun, Meng Wanzhou (CFO and deputy chairwoman), Ding Yun, Yu Chengdong, Wang Tao, Xu Wenwei, Shen-Han Chiu, Chen Lifang, Peng Zhongyang, He Tingbo, Li Yingtao, Ren Zhengfei himself, Yao Fuhai, Tao Jingwen, and Yan Lida.

Guo Ping leads Huawei Device, the division responsible for mobile phones. Zhou Daiqi acts as Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer and simultaneously fulfills the role of Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary within Huawei. Song Liuping holds the position of chief legal officer.

Ownership

Established in 1987 as a collectively owned enterprise—a form situated between state-owned and private entities—Huawei describes itself as an employee-owned company. Ren Zhengfei owns approximately 1% of Huawei Investment & Holding; the remainder is held by a trade union committee representing employee shareholders. This committee is registered with the Shenzhen federation of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, an organization under Chinese Communist Party control, which manages internal ownership frameworks. Around half of Huawei’s workforce participates in this arrangement through "virtual restricted shares," which are non-transferable performance-based incentives that revert to the company when employees leave. Although employee shareholders receive dividends and elect representatives responsible for selecting board members, they do not exercise direct control over management.

Academics Christopher Balding and Donald Clarke describe Huawei’s virtual stock scheme as essentially a profit-sharing arrangement lacking true ownership or voting privileges, suggesting that Huawei may be effectively state-controlled due to the trade union’s involvement. Tim Rühlig points out the challenges faced by companies attempting independent operation within this sector in China. In reaction to critical studies, Huawei initiated a public relations campaign aimed at enhancing transparency.

In contrast, Toshio Goto contends that Huawei’s ownership structure aligns with Chinese reform-era legal principles and argues that virtual shares are equivalent to voting stock; he maintains that employee ownership should be distinguished from union control. Wang Jun similarly disputes claims that Huawei is state-owned via labor unions and emphasizes legal distinctions between assets held by employees and those owned by unions. Kunyuan Qiao and Christopher Marquis conclude that Huawei is privately owned collectively by employees without government control.

Steve Tsang and Olivia Cheung characterize Huawei as a private firm; this perspective is supported by Simon Curtis and Ian Klaus, who note that China regards it as a national champion. However, in 2021 Huawei failed to disclose its ultimate beneficial ownership in Europe as mandated by anti-money laundering legislation.

Lobbying and public relations

In August 2019, Huawei retained the legal firm Sidley Austin to conduct lobbying efforts in the United States, addressing challenges arising from export controls, trade restrictions, sanctions, and national security measures introduced by the Trump administration.

By July 2021, Huawei enlisted lobbyist Tony Podesta aiming to foster improved engagement with the Biden administration.

The corporation has also engaged multiple public relations agencies such as Ruder Finn, Wavemaker, Racepoint Global, and Burson Cohn & Wolfe to support various communication initiatives.

According to a Bloomberg News report from January 2024, Huawei discontinued its internal lobbying operations based in Washington, D.C.

In March 2025, following allegations involving bribery, forgery, and money laundering linked to Huawei personnel, lobbyists representing the company were prohibited from accessing the European Parliament. The subsequent month, April 2025, saw the European Commission announce it would cease interactions with any lobbying entities advocating for Huawei amid ongoing investigations.

Corporate culture

Ren Zhengfei, Huawei’s founder and CEO, models the organization's corporate ethos closely on principles aligned with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), emphasizing a strong focus on customer satisfaction and societal accountability. He characterizes Huawei’s management approach and strategic direction as commercial embodiments of Maoist philosophy. When conflicts arise between Huawei’s business objectives and CCP directives, Ren consistently prioritizes the party’s agenda, underscoring his dedication to integrating communist ideology within the corporate framework.

Finances

	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total revenue (CNY¥ bn)	721	858	891	636	642	704	862
Operating profit (CNY¥ bn)	73.2	77.8	72.5	121	42.2	104	79.3
Net profit (CNY¥ bn)	59.3	62.6	64.6	113	35.5	86.9	62.5
Total assets (CNY¥ bn)	665	858	876	982	1,063	1,263	1,290

Partners

By 2010, nearly 80% of the leading 50 telecommunications companies globally had formed partnerships with Huawei.

In 2016, Huawei initiated a collaboration with German optics firm Leica to co-develop camera technology for its smartphone lines, primarily the P and Mate series, beginning with the Huawei P9 model. This alliance concluded by May 2022.

Huawei has also expanded its strategic alliances within consumer electronics: in August 2019, it joined forces with eyewear brand Gentle Monster to introduce smartglasses; later in November 2019, it partnered with audio specialist Devialet to launch the Sound X speaker system. In October 2020, Huawei rolled out Petal Maps—a navigation service developed in cooperation with Dutch mapping company TomTom—broadening its scope beyond hardware into software offerings.

Telecommunication equipment

Huawei’s product lineup includes mobile and fixed softswitches, advanced home location registers, and Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystems (IMS). The firm delivers xDSL, passive optical network (PON), along with next-generation PON (NG PON) solutions through an integrated platform. Its range covers mobile network infrastructure, broadband access technologies, and routers and switches designed for service providers (SPRS). Additionally, Huawei offers software such as service delivery platforms (SDPs) and base station subsystems. As of 2023, telecommunications network equipment remains the company's principal business segment, generating approximately half of its total revenue.

Fiber-optic cable initiatives

In 2009, Huawei Marine Networks completed the HANNIBAL submarine cable system for Tunisie Telecom, spanning the Mediterranean Sea. Huawei Marine has been involved in multiple fiber-optic ventures linked to the Belt and Road Initiative. Notable projects include the China-Pakistan Fiber Optic Project within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the South Atlantic Interlink (SAIL) Cable System connecting Cameroon and Brazil finalized in 2018, as well as the Kumul Domestic Fiber Cable linking Indonesia to Papua New Guinea. Furthermore, Huawei Marine constructed the 2,800-mile Guinea Backbone Network as a component of the Smart Africa initiative.

Worldwide services

Huawei Global Services delivers support to telecommunications providers by supplying equipment for network construction and operation. Their offerings encompass consulting and engineering services designed to enhance operational performance. Solutions include network integration for both mobile and fixed infrastructures, assurance services focusing on network security, and expertise consulting.

Devices

The Devices division of Huawei provides white-label products for content providers, including USB modems, wireless modems, mobile Wi-Fi wireless routers, embedded modules, fixed wireless terminals, wireless gateways, set-top boxes, mobile handsets, and video-related products. Huawei also promotes devices under its proprietary brand such as smartphones, tablet PCs, earbuds, and smartwatches.

Semiconductors

Huawei's wholly owned subsidiary HiSilicon stands as a prominent chip designer within China. It often collaborates with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) for fabrication processes. As of April 2024, Huawei is either constructing or supporting five semiconductor fabrication plants, reinforcing its influence in China's semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

Smartphones

As of the first quarter of 2019, Huawei holds the position of the world's second-largest smartphone manufacturer after Samsung. Its lineup features high-end devices such as the Huawei Mate series and Huawei P series, alongside more budget-friendly models under the Honor brand.

Honor was created to distinguish Huawei’s primary brand as premium. In 2020, ownership of Honor was transferred to a Shenzhen municipal state-owned enterprise. Despite initial reports suggesting Honor would lose access to Huawei’s extensive portfolio of over 100,000 active patents and $20 billion allocated for research and development in 2021, Honor smartphones have continued to integrate closely with Huawei’s software architecture and engineering innovations, including advanced camera technologies.

Development history of Huawei smartphones

Huawei launched its handset division in July 2003 and introduced its first phone model, the C300, in 2004. The U626, released in June 2005, was Huawei’s inaugural 3G device, followed by the Vodafone-branded V710 in 2006. The U8220 marked Huawei’s debut in Android smartphones at MWC 2009. At CES 2012, Huawei unveiled the Ascend series beginning with the Ascend P1 S; this was succeeded by the Ascend D1 at MWC 2012 and September’s Ascend P1 LTE—the company’s first 4G-capable smartphone. The Ascend D2 and Ascend Mate were launched at CES 2013; meanwhile, MWC 2013 saw introduction of the Ascend P2—the world’s first LTE Category 4 smartphone. The Ascend P6 arrived mid-2013 alongside the launch of Honor as a standalone brand in China.

In 2014, Huawei broadened its product range with models including the Ascend Mate2 4G, MediaPad X1 tablet, Ascend G6 4G smartphone, Ascend P7, Mate7, G7, and introduced the Ascend P7 Sapphire Edition—the first Chinese smartphone featuring a sapphire screen with 4G capabilities.

By January 2015, Huawei phased out the "Ascend" branding on flagship phones and debuted the P series with the launch of the Huawei P8. That same year saw a collaboration with Google to develop the Nexus 6P smartphone.

In May 2018, Huawei announced it would cease permitting bootloader unlocking on its devices—effectively limiting users from installing third-party firmware or receiving security updates beyond official support periods.

Huawei is acknowledged as a leading Chinese technology enterprise and a global pioneer in adopting and advancing 5G mobile technology worldwide.

Laptops

Huawei made its foray into the laptop industry in 2016 with the introduction of the Huawei MateBook series. The brand has steadily broadened this range, with recent additions like the MateBook X Pro and MateBook 13 2020 aimed at high-end market segments.

Tablets

The Huawei MatePad Pro, launched in November 2019, led the company's tablet portfolio. Following models in the MatePad line have contributed to Huawei securing the leading spot in China's tablet market and ranking second worldwide by the end of Q4 2019.

PCs

In September 2021, Huawei entered the desktop and workstation PC market with the release of the MateStation S and MateStation X. These offerings include All-in-One and Thin Client PCs designed to challenge established competitors in both professional and consumer arenas.

Wearables

The Huawei Watch is a smartwatch powered initially by Android Wear (now known as Wear OS), first unveiled at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) on 2 September 2015. Since 2020, Huawei has transitioned to devices running its proprietary operating systems, moving from the now-discontinued LiteOS to HarmonyOS. This transition marked Huawei’s official entry into the smartwatch sector. The most recent release, Huawei Watch Ultimate Design, was announced on 25 September 2023 and became available globally on 4 October 2023.

EMUI (Emotion User Interface)

Emotion UI (EMUI) is Huawei’s customized user interface built upon Google's Android Open Source Project (AOSP). It is preloaded on the majority of Huawei and Honor smartphones.

Huawei Mobile Services (HMS)

Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) functions as Huawei’s substitute for Google Mobile Services (GMS), providing developers with comparable tools and features. HMS includes Huawei’s essential mobile applications such as Huawei AppGallery, which competes directly with Google Play Store. By January 2020, HMS Core had amassed a portfolio of over 55,000 applications.

MetaERP

MetaERP represents Huawei’s in-house enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform, officially launched on April 24, 2023. Its origins trace back to a manufacturing resource planning (MRP) system developed in 1996. Following U.S. sanctions in May 2019 that limited access to American software providers, Huawei invested three years into enhancing its internal ERP capabilities.

Designed for medium to large organizations, MetaERP includes modules covering Financials and Operations, Sales Enterprise, Marketing, Customer Service, Field Service, and Project Service Automation. It operates on Huawei’s Linux-based EulerOS server platform and utilizes the GaussDB relational database technology.

Since its introduction, MetaERP has been deployed across regions including Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southern Africa, and Latin America as of May 2023. It supports ICT infrastructure and Huawei Cloud services alongside terminal device management and other business areas. Presently, thousands of employees spanning 75 countries rely on MetaERP to ensure operational stability. The system manages all internal business processes at Huawei as well as approximately 80% of its total business activities.

AI Chip

In November 2024, Huawei revealed its intention to commence mass production of the advanced AI processor Ascend 910C in early 2025. This chip is produced by the Chinese contract manufacturer SMIC utilizing its N+2 fabrication technology. The Ascend 910C is integrated with Huawei's Compute Architecture for Neural Networks (CANN) software platform, positioning it as a direct rival to Nvidia's CUDA ecosystem.

Huawei Browser

Introduced in 2020, Huawei Browser operates in more than 170 countries and is tailored specifically for the HMS (Huawei Mobile Services) ecosystem. It is developed based on the Chromium open-source project.

Automobile

Huawei has established collaborations with automotive manufacturers such as Seres, Chery, BAIC Motor, Changan Automobile, GAC Group, and JAC Group to propel its smart vehicle technology initiatives.

AITO

The Aito brand (问界 Wenjie) signifies Huawei’s high-end electric vehicle series, created in partnership with Seres. The initial model, the AITO M5, launched in December 2021, is a redesigned variant of the Seres SF5 crossover. Unlike the Seres SF5, which incorporates Huawei DriveONE and HiCar, AITO utilizes Huawei DriveONE technology alongside HarmonyOS, distinguishing it within the market. The AITO M5 rapidly achieved strong sales momentum, exceeding 6,000 orders shortly after its debut.

AVATR

The Avatr (阿维塔 Aweita) brand represents an electric vehicle collaboration between Changan Automobile and CATL, featuring Huawei’s driver assistance technologies.

Luxeed

The Luxeed (智界 Zhijie) label marks Huawei's premium electric vehicle partnership with Chery. Its first release, the Luxeed S7—previously known as the Chery EH3—is a luxury electric executive sedan scheduled for launch in Q3 2023 and distinguished by the integration of Harmony OS 4.

Huawei Solar

Huawei entered the photovoltaic sector in 2011 by founding an Energy Center of Competence in Nuremberg, Germany. By September 2016, it expanded production capabilities at its Eindhoven facility in the Netherlands to manufacture 7,000 inverter units monthly. In October that year, Huawei penetrated the North American market through a strategic alliance with Strata Solar. April 2017 saw the introduction of string solar inverters and DC power optimizers designed for residential solar installations, followed by the addition of solar battery products. Starting in 2024, some offerings are marketed under the "iStore" brand within Australia.

As of 2022, Huawei commands a 29% share of the global solar inverter market, ranking as the largest manufacturer worldwide with an 83% year-over-year increase in shipments.

Competitive position

Huawei's international expansion has been fueled by providing cost-effective telecommunications equipment that undercuts competitors' pricing.

In 2012, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. was recognized as the leading global telecom equipment provider and held the position as China’s top telephone network equipment manufacturer. By 2014, with 3,442 patents filed, Huawei became the foremost international patent applicant worldwide. It ranked second for patents granted by the European Patent Office in 2019. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2021 report, Huawei topped global patent applications published under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), submitting 5,464 applications in 2020. In trademark filings under the Madrid System during 2023, Huawei placed ninth globally with 78 applications.

By 2023, Huawei dominated the global 5G infrastructure market, securing the largest market share and having constructed roughly 70% of worldwide 5G base stations.

Research and development

In 2024, more than half of Huawei’s employees are dedicated to research activities. The corporation allocated $22.1 billion towards R&D, which constitutes roughly 22.4% of its net revenue, placing it among the top six global companies investing over $20 billion annually in research and development. Huawei prioritizes technological advancement to achieve vertical integration within its supply chain, particularly focusing on segments susceptible to international sanctions.

Huawei maintains a broad network of R&D facilities across the globe, including locations in China, the United States (notably via FutureWei Technologies), Canada, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, Finland, France, Belgium, Germany, Colombia, Sweden, Ireland, India, Russia, and Turkey. In July 2024, the company inaugurated its largest research center near Shanghai, designed to support nearly 35,000 staff members.

The company also partners with academic institutions such as the University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo, University of Western Ontario, University of Guelph, and Université Laval to sponsor scholarly research.

Controversies

Huawei has been accused of embedding backdoors in its products to facilitate espionage on behalf of the Chinese government. Chinese legislation mandates that citizens and enterprises cooperate with state intelligence agencies when requested. Huawei’s leadership denies these allegations, asserting they have never been asked to implement backdoors, would reject such demands if made, and maintain that Chinese law does not compel compliance in this regard. Up to 2019, no proof has been presented by the United States demonstrating coordinated cyberattacks involving Huawei.

Early business practices

During the late 1990s, Huawei engaged in complex contractual arrangements with local state-owned telecom operators that appeared to involve improper payments to employees within telecommunications bureaus. The company established joint ventures with these clients—such as Shanghai Huawei and Sichuan Huawei—that acted as shell entities to channel funds to local telecom personnel in exchange for securing equipment sales contracts. For instance, partners in Sichuan Huawei could recoup 60–70 percent of their investments through annual 'dividend' payments.

Allegations of state support

Martin Thorley from the University of Nottingham noted that for a firm of Huawei’s scale operating in a sensitive industry within China, strong affiliation with the Communist Party is essential for success. Klon Kitchen argued that achieving dominance in 5G technology is vital for China’s strategy to fuse state-controlled capitalism with authoritarian technological governance. Nigel Inkster at the International Institute for Strategic Studies described Huawei’s participation in Western 5G infrastructure as a strategic factor aligned with China’s global ambitions under the Belt and Road Initiative. In October 2020, the U.K. Defence Committee uncovered indications of coordination between Huawei and the Chinese government based on ownership structures and financial subsidies.

Huawei receives significant backing from the Chinese state, which regards it as a national champion alongside firms like Alibaba Group and Tencent. Unlike many other Chinese companies encountering international resistance, Huawei benefits from robust government support. For example, following the detention of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou in Canada, China detained two Canadian citizens in what was widely interpreted as "hostage diplomacy." Additionally, China imposed tariffs on Australian goods after Australia barred Huawei from its 5G network rollout. In June 2020, when the UK reconsidered Huawei's involvement in its 5G infrastructure, China threatened retaliatory measures impacting investments in power generation and rail projects. The UK Defence Committee concluded that Beijing applied both covert and overt pressure tactics to preserve Huawei’s role. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo promised assistance to allied nations facing such coercion, including support for secure 5G alternatives.

Chinese diplomatic interventions advocating for Huawei within the EU contradict the company’s assertions of independence from government influence. In 2019, China’s ambassador to Denmark reportedly linked Huawei’s 5G expansion with trade negotiations and warned that excluding Huawei could jeopardize trade agreements. Similar diplomatic pressures occurred in Germany where the ambassador implied potential negative consequences for German automobile exports if Huawei was banned.

According to estimates by the Wall Street Journal, Huawei benefited from approximately "$46 billion in loans and other financial support alongside $25 billion in tax incentives" as part of China’s efforts to compete with Apple and Samsung. Major state-owned banks such as China Development Bank extended substantial low-interest credit facilities totaling US$30 billion between 2004 and 2009, enabling Huawei customers to offer significantly lower prices than competitors. The European Commission investigated these subsidies for potentially distorting competition and harming European suppliers; Huawei sought resolution by proposing a US$56 million settlement to drop the case. Then-European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht remarked that Huawei exploited state aid advantages to undercut competitors by margins reaching up to 70 percent.

In November 2019, Huawei initiated defamation proceedings in France against a researcher and media personalities who publicly asserted on television that Huawei is controlled by the Chinese state and Communist Party.

Allegations of military and intelligence affiliations

In 2011, the Open Source Enterprise released a report raising concerns about Huawei's close association with the Chinese government, highlighting that former chairwoman Sun Yafang had previously worked within the Communications Department of the Ministry of State Security (MSS). In 2019, Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei dismissed accusations of espionage or embedding backdoors, affirming that the company would refuse such measures even if mandated by Chinese legislation. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang also maintained that the government does not compel companies to conduct spying activities abroad. Huawei referenced a legal assessment from Zhong Lun Law Firm, co-signed by a Chinese Communist Party member, asserting that the National Intelligence Law does not apply to the company; nonetheless, external analysts questioned this claim given China’s expansive national security framework and the 2017 intelligence law obliging cooperation with state intelligence agencies.

Experts emphasize that under Xi Jinping’s administration, the 2017 National Intelligence Law alongside the 2014 Counter-Espionage Law require Chinese enterprises to assist intelligence services, rendering noncompliance improbable. Legal experts point out that the Chinese Communist Party is deeply integrated into Huawei’s organizational structure. Former staff members have acknowledged state influence over firms like Huawei. Additionally, China’s cybersecurity legislation mandates the use of government-approved equipment, granting authorities visibility into data flows and communications. Analysts conclude that Huawei likely lacks any legal means to refuse CCP demands due to party dominance over judicial and governmental institutions.

A 2019 investigation by the Henry Jackson Society examining 25,000 Huawei employee resumes uncovered connections to China’s Ministry of State Security, People’s Liberation Army (PLA), and military hacking units, suggesting institutional ties between Huawei and Chinese state and military bodies. While Huawei denies involvement in military or intelligence operations, it admits some personnel come from government backgrounds. Reports indicate that in 2014, the U.S. National Security Agency infiltrated Huawei’s networks to explore PLA affiliations.

Michael Wessel, a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, likened Huawei’s position to that of a locksmith amid escalating security apprehensions. Bloomberg reported Australian intelligence uncovered a backdoor in telecommunications networks introduced by a Huawei software update transmitting data back to China; Huawei refuted these claims, stating updates require customer approval. African officials accused Huawei of facilitating surveillance on political adversaries; additional reports revealed data transfers from African Union servers to unidentified locations in Shanghai. In 2019, a Canadian engineer detected a Huawei device sending unauthorized information to China.

By late 2019, U.S. authorities warned counterparts in the UK and Germany that Huawei equipment contained hidden backdoors accessible since 2009, potentially exploited worldwide due to its extensive deployment and affordability. The UK established a Huawei-funded laboratory to assess its hardware; after eight years no backdoors were discovered, although vulnerabilities exploitable by hackers were identified.

Timeline

In 2022, Yale economist Stephen Roach asserted that there is no substantial proof supporting claims that Huawei incorporated backdoors for industrial espionage, except for a single case in 2011 when Vodafone identified a security flaw in Huawei software deployed on its Italian fixed-line network. Huawei addressed the vulnerability swiftly at Vodafone's request, with no indication of any data breach. Vodafone remained confident in Huawei’s products and subsequently increased its reliance on the company.

A security assessment mandated by the White House in 2012 uncovered no evidence that Huawei engaged in spying activities on behalf of China but highlighted that security weaknesses posed significant risks. This review followed a report from the US House Intelligence Committee cautioning against allowing Huawei to supply critical telecommunications infrastructure within the United States.

Huawei has been at the heart of debates regarding Chinese influence over 5G networks. In 2018, the United States enacted a defense spending law prohibiting federal contracts with Huawei, ZTE, and other Chinese surveillance firms due to national security concerns. In response, China warned of possible economic repercussions against nations restricting Huawei’s market presence.

That same year, New Zealand barred Huawei from providing equipment for Spark New Zealand’s 5G network, citing substantial security threats and apprehensions linked to China’s National Intelligence Law.

Despite opposition from the US, Huawei took part in building the UK’s 5G infrastructure. Between late 2018 and early 2019, intelligence agencies in Germany and the UK found no proof of espionage by Huawei after examining its 5G hardware and source code, concluding that a ban was unnecessary. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) declared that US allegations lacked evidence and described risks related to Huawei as "manageable." The Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC), primarily staffed by Huawei employees but overseen by GCHQ, faced scrutiny regarding its independence.

Nonetheless, an NCSC report released in October 2020 indicated that Huawei had not sufficiently remedied security vulnerabilities in UK telecom equipment, highlighting a flaw of national importance dating back to 2019. The report conveyed limited confidence in mitigating long-term risks to UK national security. Following this, the UK government announced in July 2020 a prohibition on Huawei’s 5G technology, with a requirement to remove all such equipment by 2027. In October 2020, the British Defence Select Committee uncovered evidence suggesting collusion between Huawei and the Chinese government and advocated for expediting the removal of Huawei gear by 2025. Huawei contested this decision, referencing an Oxford Economics study that estimated its contribution to the UK economy at £3.3 billion.

In March 2019, Huawei initiated defamation lawsuits against individuals alleging connections with the Chinese government. By June 2020, France’s ANSSI informed telecommunications providers that licenses for Huawei 5G equipment could not be renewed beyond 2028. French President Emmanuel Macron later reassured China that although France preferred European suppliers for security reasons, it had not enacted an outright ban on Huawei but was implementing a gradual phase-out of its products.

In February 2020, US officials accused Huawei of covertly exploiting backdoors in carrier infrastructure since 2009.

In July 2020, New Zealand’s signals intelligence minister declared that the country would not follow the UK and US lead in banning Huawei from its 5G network.

In May 2022, Canada’s industry minister announced a ban on Huawei equipment within Canadian 5G networks aimed at safeguarding national security and critical infrastructure. Telecom providers were prohibited from acquiring new hardware from Huawei or ZTE and required to dismantle existing installations by June 28, 2024.

Intellectual property violations

Huawei has resolved patent infringement disputes with companies such as Cisco Systems, Motorola, and PanOptis. In 2018, a German court ruled against Huawei and ZTE, favoring MPEG LA, the patent holder for technologies related to Advanced Video Coding.

The company has been subject to numerous claims of intellectual property violations. In February 2003, Cisco initiated legal action against Huawei, accusing it of replicating source code used in routers and switches. By July 2004, Huawei had removed the disputed code and reached an out-of-court settlement, acknowledging that it had copied certain Cisco router software.

During the 2004 Supercomm technology conference in Chicago, a Huawei staff member was reportedly caught photographing competitors’ circuit boards.

Brian Shields, former chief security officer at Nortel, revealed that Chinese hackers infiltrated Nortel’s systems in 2004. While he did not explicitly accuse Huawei, he implied the company gained from stolen materials including product plans and sales documents. Despite Nortel’s efforts, Canadian authorities did not provide assistance.

Some cybersecurity analysts have expressed skepticism regarding the extent of the breach described by Shields. Research conducted by University of Ottawa professor Jonathan Calof and ex-Nortel executive Tim Dempsey attributes Nortel’s downfall primarily to flawed strategy and ineffective management, although allegations of industrial espionage involving Huawei remain.

In 2017, a jury determined that Huawei had misappropriated trade secrets from T-Mobile US, awarding damages solely for contract violations rather than espionage.

In February 2020, the US Department of Justice charged Huawei with racketeering and conspiring to steal trade secrets from six American companies. Huawei contested these accusations, highlighting the absence of any substantial financial penalties.

North Korea

Leaked documents obtained by The Washington Post in 2019 raised alarms about Huawei's covert business dealings with North Korea despite existing US sanctions.

Xinjiang internment camps

Huawei has been accused of providing technology implicated in mass surveillance and detention practices targeting Uyghurs in Xinjiang, resulting in sanctions imposed by the United States Department of State. Evidence suggests Huawei developed facial recognition software designed to detect ethnicity-specific traits and filed a patent in China for technology capable of distinguishing Han and Uyghur pedestrians. Additionally, the company and its suppliers have faced allegations of employing forced labor. Huawei denies involvement in operating such systems, asserting that it sells technology worldwide but does not control how it is utilized.

Alleged Hamas usage

On 8 October 2023, former MI6 operative Aimen Dean stated on X that Israel's failure to anticipate the Hamas-led assault was partially due to militants utilizing Huawei devices such as phones, tablets, and laptops. He pointed out that restrictions imposed by US technology firms on Huawei compelled it to develop proprietary platforms that are challenging to breach except by Chinese entities.

Legal Actions

In January 2024, the networking firm Netgear, headquartered in San Jose, initiated a lawsuit in a federal court in California against Huawei. The complaint accused Huawei of breaching U.S. antitrust regulations by denying access to patent licenses and included allegations of fraud and racketeering.

In June 2025, U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in New York rejected Huawei's request to dismiss the majority of accusations in the 2018 federal lawsuit U.S. v. Huawei Technologies Co et al. This case alleges that Huawei engaged in racketeering to grow its business, misappropriated trade secrets from American companies, and committed bank fraud connected to Iran. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei’s CFO and daughter of its founder, had previously faced charges and was detained in Canada for nearly three years before the charges were dropped in 2022.

NSA Network Breach

In 2014, reports from Der Spiegel and The New York Times uncovered that the National Security Agency (NSA) had infiltrated Huawei’s network back in 2009. This operation involved coordination with the White House intelligence office and the FBI. The NSA gained access to Huawei’s client database, internal training documents, and core email archives containing messages from founder Ren Zhengfei and chairwoman Sun Yafang. The objective was to evaluate Huawei’s infrastructure for potential Chinese signals intelligence activities and discover vulnerabilities exploitable against NSA targets. In 2023, China officially acknowledged the NSA’s cyber intrusion.

Corruption Allegations within the European Union

In March 2025, Huawei became entangled in a corruption investigation conducted by Brussels authorities concerning alleged bribery efforts aimed at the European Parliament. Belgian prosecutors are examining possible "active corruption" designed to benefit Huawei, drawing comparisons to the 2022 Qatargate incident and prompting scrutiny over lobbying conduct within the EU. Subsequently, in May 2025, lobby organization SolarPower Europe expelled Huawei; simultaneously, the European Parliament revoked access privileges for Huawei lobbyists and the European Commission suspended meetings with groups associated with Huawei.

Pre-2020 Semiconductor Restrictions

In August 2018, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA 2019) prohibited the use of equipment from Huawei and ZTE within U.S. federal government agencies due to security concerns. Huawei responded by filing a lawsuit in March 2019, challenging the ban as unconstitutional because it targeted the company without due legal process. However, this lawsuit was dismissed in February 2020 as the court affirmed Congress’s legislative authority.

On May 15, 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce placed Huawei along with 70 of its subsidiaries on its Entity List for violating export controls related to Iran. This designation restricted American companies from engaging in business with Huawei without obtaining a license. Following this action, numerous U.S.-based firms suspended their commercial relationships with Huawei to comply with regulations.

Initially, the May 2019 restrictions did not cover most non-U.S.-made chips; however, several extensions were granted by the Trump administration. In May 2020, these restrictions were broadened to encompass semiconductors specifically designed for Huawei that incorporated U.S. technology. By August 2020, a comprehensive ban on all semiconductor sales to Huawei was implemented, effective from September 2020 onward. Additionally, Samsung and LG Display were prohibited under these rules from supplying display panels to Huawei.

Post-2020 Developments

The sanctions imposed starting in September 2020 had a profound effect on Huawei’s manufacturing capabilities, market performance, and financial projections. Although there was a brief suggestion during the 2019 G20 summit that US restrictions might be relaxed, the US Department of Commerce expanded export controls in May 2020 to prevent Huawei from acquiring semiconductors that incorporate US technology, regardless of where they were produced. In June 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) classified Huawei as a national security risk, thereby excluding it from receiving US government subsidies. Subsequent federal policies barred government contractors from utilizing or distributing Huawei equipment.

In November 2020, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting American investments in firms associated with the Chinese military, explicitly including Huawei. By January 2021, authorization for US companies such as Intel to supply Huawei was rescinded. The FCC unanimously decided in June 2021 to prohibit the approval of Huawei devices within US telecommunications infrastructure.

Throughout 2021, the Biden administration exerted pressure on the United Arab Emirates to remove Huawei technology from its networks, leveraging the potential cancellation of arms deals valued at $23 billion. This situation underscored the diplomatic challenges faced by Gulf states as they navigated between US and Chinese interests, often favoring Chinese technology due to economic and geopolitical considerations despite American security objections.

Following the enactment of the Secure Equipment Act in 2021, the FCC implemented a comprehensive ban on Huawei equipment in November 2022, citing national security concerns. In May 2024, the Department of Commerce revoked export licenses that had permitted Intel and Qualcomm to provide semiconductors to Huawei. By March 2025, the FCC initiated an inquiry into whether Huawei and other Chinese corporations were circumventing US restrictions through their operations within the United States.

Accumulation of Processors

Ahead of the critical deadline on 15 September 2020, Huawei shifted into a "survival mode," amassing large quantities of 5G mobile processors, WiFi modules, radio frequency components, display driver chips, and other essential parts sourced from suppliers such as Samsung, SK Hynix, TSMC, MediaTek, Realtek, Novatek, and RichWave. In 2019 alone, Huawei’s expenditure on chip and component stockpiling reached $23.45 billion—a 73% increase compared to 2018. In May 2020, SMIC began producing 14 nm chips for Huawei, marking its first use of a foundry other than TSMC. By July 2020, TSMC confirmed it would cease shipping silicon wafers to Huawei and its subsidiary HiSilicon by mid-September.

For its critical telecommunications and server divisions, Huawei accumulated between one and two years’ worth of chips and parts inventory, significantly boosting reserves after Meng Wanzhou’s detention in Canada in 2018. Major suppliers included Xilinx, Intel, AMD, Samsung, SK Hynix, Micron, and Kioxia. Analysts projected that based on current stockpiles, Huawei could distribute up to 195 million smartphones in 2021; however, ongoing export limitations could reduce shipments to approximately 50 million units.

Processor Development Efforts

Toward the end of 2020, Huawei announced plans to establish a semiconductor fabrication plant in Shanghai that would operate without reliance on US technologies to support its telecom operations amid chip shortages. The company aimed to partner with the government-backed Shanghai IC R&D Center—partially owned by state-run Hua Hong Semiconductor—and utilize equipment supplied by Chinese firms such as AMEC and NAURA Technology Group alongside accessible foreign tools.

In August 2023, the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) accused Huawei of secretly constructing multiple semiconductor fabrication facilities throughout China as a means to evade US sanctions. Reports indicated that Huawei had received about $30 billion in government funding, acquired two manufacturing sites already, and intended to develop at least three additional plants. Since its addition to the US Department of Commerce’s entity list in 2019—which restricts interactions with American companies—Huawei appeared to have bypassed these constraints by operating through affiliated entities to indirectly obtain US-origin chipmaking machinery.

On 6 September 2023, Huawei unveiled the Mate 60 smartphone featuring the Kirin 9000s processor manufactured by SMIC using advanced 7-nanometer technology. Despite sanctions limiting access to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography equipment, SMIC adapted existing tools to reach this technological achievement. Industry experts regarded this as a major breakthrough for China’s semiconductor sector and a strategic move that could help Huawei remain competitive within the smartphone market. Nonetheless, some specialists cautioned that this development might provoke further tightening of sanctions.

Alternative operating systems

In response to the 2018 US sanctions, Huawei created its own operating system, internally named "HongMeng OS", designed as a contingency plan to substitute Android or Windows if access was restricted. The company registered trademarks such as "Ark", "Ark OS", and "Harmony" across Europe, all associated with this OS. On 9 August 2019, Huawei introduced HarmonyOS at its HDC developers' event, showcasing the ARK compiler that enables running Android APKs.

By September 2019, Huawei started delivering select Matebook laptops in China equipped with the Linux-based Deepin distribution.

Originally, HarmonyOS was not targeted at smartphones; nevertheless, by June 2021 Huawei began releasing smartphones in China pre-installed with HarmonyOS, while continuing to use Android-based EMUI for European markets. HarmonyOS rapidly expanded within China, achieving a 10% share of the smartphone OS market by mid-2023, largely at the expense of Android.

International restrictions

In 2013, Taiwan prohibited mobile network operators and government agencies from utilizing Huawei equipment.

Japan implemented a ban on Huawei government contracts in 2018.

Due to national security concerns in 2019, Vietnam excluded Huawei from participating in its 5G network construction tenders, favoring Nokia and Ericsson instead.

Following border conflicts between China and India during 2020–2021, India announced the removal of Huawei telecommunications hardware and barred the company from involvement in its 5G deployment.

Out of the 27 European Union nations, ten have enacted regulatory policies restricting Huawei products, ranging from complete bans to heightened approval requirements.

Brazil rescinded its prior ban in early 2021, permitting Huawei's participation in its 5G spectrum auction.

In May 2022, Canada prohibited the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment within its 5G infrastructure and mandated operators to dismantle existing installations by June 2024, influenced by pressure from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Similarly, Australia and New Zealand have imposed limitations on Huawei devices.

The United Kingdom extended the deadline for removing core Huawei components from its networks until the end of 2023 but maintains a full phase-out by 2027 as originally directed under US guidance.

Costa Rica, in August 2023, disallowed companies from nations not party to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime from participating in its 5G spectrum auction—effectively excluding Huawei and other Chinese firms.

In July 2024, Germany reached an agreement with telecom providers to eliminate Chinese-made 5G equipment, including Huawei’s products, by 2029.

Taiwan added Huawei to its export control list in June 2025.

Perspective within China

The widespread skepticism and restrictions against Huawei from Western countries are largely perceived by the Chinese populace as unwarranted. This sentiment has generated robust domestic backing; consumers and municipal governments alike regard supporting Huawei as an expression of national pride and resistance in technological and geopolitical rivalry with the United States. As a result, Huawei commands greater public approval compared to competitors and has notably solidified its dominance within China's smart city technology sector.

See also

• Huawei AppGallery
• Petal Maps
• Petal Search
• List of companies of China