Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 50 | Page 20

TRENDING
Trade benefits all sides . Allowing US companies to supply goods to Chinese customers is conducive to their own financial performance .
Zhengfei elaborated on how there are many industries that Huawei is not directly familiar with , such as airports , ports , coal mining , iron and steel production , automotive and aircraft manufacturing . That is why Huawei has built joint labs to learn more about the needs of these industries .
Huawei now has more than 100 research centres and joint labs around the world , most of which specialise in areas like mathematics , physics , chemistry , biology and aesthetics . Some of these are applied research labs Huawei has built with its customers , such as joint labs with telecom operators .
“ We are still winning trust from a large number of customers ,” Zhengfei added . He cited how Huawei ’ s networks in Europe are now among the top global network performance tests . The fact that consumers can now use products like the iPhone 12 to its fullest potential on Huawei 5G networks in Europe is a further testament to the quality of its networks .
Ren Zhengfei , Founder and CEO , Huawei of 5G and the security of these networks . Reiterating comments from last year , Zhengfei stressed that Huawei is open to working with US companies to transfer knowledge around 5G and collaborate on technology licensing .
“ As long as the US asks for it , we would transfer everything from the ( 5G ) source programs and source code to hardware design . I meant what I said , but no US company has come forward . If they want to talk , we ' d be happy to talk ,” said Zhengfei .
The executive added that Huawei doesn ’ t have the energy to get involved in a ‘ political whirlpool ’ and prefers to focus on technology innovation .
“ We ' ll continue serving our customers well by creating more value for them . We want them to have lasting faith in us and we hope that they won ' t sway because of political pressure ,” he said .
Responding to questions about the future of Huawei ’ s device business , Zhengfei confirmed that Huawei is not just thinking about mobile phones .
“ Everything that connects people or things are devices . That includes things like laser and ultrasonic radar , self-driving vehicles , household gas meters and so on . Mobile phones are only one part of the device category . So Huawei may transfer our 5G technologies to other ( areas ) in the future , but will never sell our device business .”
Despite Huawei being added to a US entity list ban in recent years , the Huawei founder remains optimistic about the company ’ s future and that of the global technology industry .
Zhengfei said he is more confident than ever about Huawei ' s survival , due in part to the company having more ways to overcome its challenges . He also cited Huawei sales revenue and profits in 2020 as being higher than the previous year .
“ We rely on globalisation . As humanity keeps making progress , no company can develop a globalised industry alone . It requires concerted efforts from around the world . We won ' t give up this ideal of globalisation and will continue doing business this way , no matter how harsh the sanctions or blocks are ,” Zhengfei said . p
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