\tRen Zhengfei, Huawei founder and CEO (pictured), added detail to his proposal to licence its 5G technology, indicating he wants to transfer exclusive rights to create a US-based champion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it should be a US company,\u201d he said in a briefing, noting Europe has 5G suppliers, and Japan and South Korea have relevant technologies, but the US is not involved in the development.<\/p>\n
After receiving the licence, the company \u201cshould be able compete with us around the world, not just confined to the US market. It would put them at the same starting line and on a level playing field”.<\/p>\n
Ren floated the idea of licensing its 5G technology earlier this month [1]: asked if there had been any interest since, he merely chuckled.<\/p>\n
Decoupling
\nHe said it took hundreds of companies 20 years to develop the unified 5G standard, so different countries can connect with each other under one framework. \u201cI don\u2019t support the idea of technology being decoupled. It doesn\u2019t make sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ren believes the possibility of having two technology camps is very slim: \u201cNo company can be independent from each other. And no country or company alone can create an independent ecosystem.\u201d<\/p>\n
He insisted Huawei doesn\u2019t want to be fully independent in the supply chain, explaining that in the short-term it may have to use more of its own technology but, over time, \u201cour view is to embrace the world and collaborate with partners\u201d.<\/p>\n
Huawei expects US companies to resume component shipments \u201cas we\u2019ve been working with them for three decades\u201d, he stated.<\/p>\n
Its output of 5G base stations is just gearing up, with 5,000 units a month. Mass production will start in October, with 1.3 million base stations produced in 2020.<\/p>\n
Nurturing competition
\nRen is not concerned the company could lose its 5G leadership or experience a drop in sales if it proceeds with the licensing move, noting it would generate revenue from transferring the technology, which could fund future investment.<\/p>\n
He also believes nurturing industry competition would push its employees, giving them a sense of urgency so \u201cthey don\u2019t become complacent”.<\/p>\n
“I don\u2019t see competition as a threat, but as a driver to push us to the next level.”<\/p>\n
Ren said it is conducting parallel research on 5G and 6G, which is just getting started with the focus mostly on mmWave. \u201cIt\u2019s still the early phase and there\u2019s a long way to go \u2013 it\u2019s ten years out.\u201d<\/p>\n[1] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/featured-content\/home-banner\/huawei-mulls-radical-plan-to-sell-5g-assets\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ren Zhengfei, Huawei founder and CEO (pictured), added detail to his proposal to licence its …<\/p>\n
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