“Strategically, if you’re the U.S. and you’re trying to plan industrial policy, this deal makes sense.”Mobile carriers in China have already announced bold plans to roll out 5G networks, and the creation of a new American wireless giant would be unlikely to affect them. China Mobile, which has nearly 900 million wireless customers, is aiming to begin large-scale 5G trials in several Chinese cities this year. For years, Huawei and ZTE have been unable to sell to large American wireless operators over security concerns. ZTE now faces the prospect of being unable to manufacture network gear during the years in which wireless providers in China and elsewhere will most likely be building 5G networks. “We do have expectations for 5G, but the expectations are not as great as everyone imagines,” said Eric Xu, Huawei’s deputy chairman.

Source: New York Times April 30, 2018 12:11 UTC