Huawei and ZTE have snagged 50 percent of the $3.2 billion worth of the contracts to build out China Mobile’s TD-LTE network. Nokia Siemens and Ericsson each landed 11 percent shares of the project, while Alcatel-Lucent secured a 13 percent share of the business. 

Datang Mobile Communications was also awarded a contract that accounted for 10 percent of the total value of the project. The remaining 10 percent was split between three Chinese companies–FiberHouse Technologies, Nanjing Putian Telecommunications, and New Postcom Equipment. 

In all, China Mobile hopes to deploy 200,000 base stations this year. 

Infrastructure vendors have been awaiting China Mobile’s buildout contracts, as spending on networking gear has slowed due to the fact that projects in the U.S., Japan and U.K. have largely been settled. 

News of the contracts comes as China Mobile and Apple are reportedly nearing a deal for the carrier to offer its customers an iPhone. Until now, Apple has not supported TD-LTE technology in its phones. 

China Mobile’s 740 million subcribers make it the largest carrier in the world and represent a considerable growth opportunity for Apple.