ZTE Corp. reportedly hopes to be one of the first companies to introduce a 5G-ready smartphone in the U.S. market.
Lixin Cheng, who heads the Chinese tech company’s device business, told Bloomberg at last week’s CES event that the new smartphone should be rolled out late this year or in early 2019.
ZTE’s market share lags far behind global smartphone leaders Apple and Samsung — along with fellow Chinese device maker Huawei — but if it meets that timeline, it could beat the industry’s giants to introduce 5G devices in the U.S.
Cheng acknowledged that the company’s goal would depend on carriers deploying 5G networks and chip makers supplying faster technology. He also said ZTE could issue a 5G tablet or home internet hub.
The company’s ambitions coincide with renewed interest in potential security issues raised by Chinese device makers. U.S. lawmakers remain concerned about ties between Huawei and ZTE and Beijing — an issue that reportedly scuttled a planned Huawei agreement with AT&T earlier this month.
Filed Under: 5G
