India, the largest wireless market outside China by number of subscribers, has been a focus for investment by Huawei.<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHuawei Technologies Co., the wireless network giant blocked from selling its equipment in the U.S. and some other markets, is betting it can find customers for its 5G gear in India, where the government has yet to weigh in on U.S. calls for a boycott against the Chinese company. The world\u2019s largest maker of components for 5G networks said it\u2019s continuing to invest in India and working with the government to counter U.S. allegations that its equipment could be used to help China\u2019s government spy on countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe approach we took to engage with the Indian government is very transparent, direct and cooperative,\u201d Jay Chen, chief executive officer of Huawei\u2019s India business, said in an interview in New Delhi. \u201cWe have given a full commitment to follow all rules and regulations, full compliance.\u201d<\/p>\n
India, the largest wireless market outside China by number of subscribers, has been a focus for investment by Huawei, even though the government has yet to set dates for auctioning 5G spectrum to carriers. While the Trump administration has asked other countries to shun Huawei, the company\u2019s products remain essential to India\u2019s wireless ecosystem and technological development, Chen said.<\/p>\n
India has fallen behind China and some other countries in plans to introduce 5G, superfast networks seen as essential to developing factory automation, autonomous driving and other artificial intelligence applications. The nation\u2019s phone carriers are struggling with debt and have already called the government\u2019s plan to auction 5G airwaves too expensive.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Indian market has an ecosystem now,\u201d Chen said in an interview Tuesday. \u201cIf this ecosystem is broken because of absence of Huawei, I think the loss will not only be financial but also about losing technology development.\u201d<\/p>\n
U.S. Pressure<\/strong><\/p>\nAt the same time, the U.S. is applying pressure on countries to reject equipment from Huawei, which is China\u2019s largest tech manufacturer and a key to the country\u2019s bid to become a superpower in the technology industry. The U.S. hasn\u2019t ruled out punitive measures aimed at allies that refuse to ban Huawei equipment on their 5G networks, Rob Strayer, the State Department\u2019s deputy assistant secretary for cyber policy said last month.<\/p>\n
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross last week said the U.S. push for a boycott is driven by concern about security, rather than an attempt to protect its own industry from competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope that our geopolitical partner India does not inadvertently subject itself to an untoward security risk,\u201d Ross said in New Delhi earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Top carriers Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd. have decided to work with non-Chinese equipment manufacturers for 5G trials, the Business Standard newspaper reported last month, citing people it didn\u2019t identify. Vodafone Idea Ltd. is working with Ericsson AB, Nokia Oyj and Huawei on developing 5G technology, according to the newspaper. Jio and Airtel declined to comment, the paper said.<\/p>\n
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi<\/a> met last week and agreed to set up a new mechanism to discuss trade during two days of informal talks in southern India that were aimed at re-calibrating strained ties between the nations. Huawei\u2019s prospective role as a supplier of 5G equipment wasn\u2019t discussed, Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale told reporters Oct. 12.<\/p>\nChen said Huawei has a long-term strategy in India.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring my engagement with the India government, I didn\u2019t get any negative feedback,\u201d he said. \u201cI have full confidence Huawei will be welcomed by the Indian government.\u201d<\/p>\n
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