Initially focused on manufacturing phone switches, Huawei has expanded to more than 170 countries to include building telecommunications networks, providing operational and consulting services and equipment, and manufacturing communications devices for the consumer market.[6] It overtook Ericsson in 2012 as the largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world.[7] Huawei surpassed Apple and Samsung, in 2018 and 2020, respectively, to become the largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide.[8][9] Amidst its rise, Huawei has been accused of intellectual property infringement, for which it has settled with companies like Cisco.[10]
Questions regarding the extent of state influence on Huawei have revolved around its national champions role in China, subsidies and financing support from state entities,[11] and reactions of the Chinese government in light of oppositions in certain countries to Huawei's participation in 5G.[12] Its software and equipment have been linked to the mass surveillance of Uyghurs and Xinjiang internment camps, drawing sanctions from the US.[13][14][15]
The company has faced difficulties in some countries arising from concerns that its equipment may enable surveillance by the Chinese government due to perceived connections with the country's military and intelligence agencies.[11][16] Huawei has argued that critics such as the US government have not shown evidence of espionage.[17] Experts say that China's 2014 Counter-Espionage Law and 2017 National Intelligence Law can compel Huawei and other companies to cooperate with state intelligence.[18] In 2012, Australian and US intelligence agencies concluded that a hack on Australia's telecom networks was conducted by or through Huawei, although the two network operators have disputed that information.[19][20]
^"Who's afraid of Huawei?". The Economist. 3 August 2012. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2018. Huawei has just overtaken Sweden's Ericsson to become the world's largest telecoms-equipment-maker.
^Cite error: The named reference Europeancountries was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Krolikowski, Alanna; Hall, Todd H. (2023). "Non-decision decisions in the Huawei 5G dilemma: Policy in Japan, the UK, and Germany". Japanese Journal of Political Science. 24 (2): 171–189. doi:10.1017/S146810992200038X. ISSN1468-1099.