ZTE
- Company typePublic
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersShenzhen, China
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ZTE does
ZTE Corporation (000063.SZ / 0763.HK) is a Shenzhen-headquartered, dual-listed Chinese telecom equipment vendor operating since 1985 and employing approximately 64,000 people across 160+ countries. The company sells integrated ICT solutions to global telecom operators spanning wireless access (5G/5G-Advanced RAN), fixed access (PON, FTTR-B), optical transport (Real 400G, C+L 1.6T OTN), IP networking, core network (including the AIR Core AI-native platform), server and storage, and intelligent energy. Its core technology architecture is the AI-native 'Connectivity + Computing' stack built on AIR DNA, AIR RAN, AIR Core, the Nebula Telecom Large Model, and the Differentiation-driven Generative Network (DGN) solution, supported by approximately 31,000 R&D personnel (48.5% of workforce) and 17% R&D-to-revenue intensity.
ZTE generates revenue across three primary segments: Carrier Networks (largest, including Q1 2026 carrier revenue of RMB 35 billion with computing mix rising to 27%), Home and Enterprise (#1 globally in home information terminal shipments with 100M+ annual units), and Consumer Devices (nubia and REDMAGIC smartphones, including the Doubao AI Phone co-developed with ByteDance). Revenue mechanics include equipment hardware sales, managed services and digital operations engagements, subscription-based smart home cloud services delivered through the Smart Cloud Platform, FRAND patent licensing (exemplified by the $392 million Samsung UK court ruling in 2026), and turnkey network deployment projects across Latin America, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
Beyond telecom carriers, ZTE serves government and enterprise verticals including healthcare (CardioMind AI with NCRCIM), energy (TNB Malaysia smart grid), mining, transportation, financial services, and digital government. The customer base spans tier-1 operators (China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, XLSMART, Telkom Indonesia, Turkcell, TNB), regional ISPs (MiFibra Peru, ETB Colombia, Wind Telecom Dominican Republic), and consumer buyers via ztedevices.com and operator bundles. Strategic positioning centers on the 'All in AI, AI for All' framework, embedding AI-native capabilities across products to address operator OPEX pressure and ARPU stagnation.
ZTE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ZTE
- Legal name
- 中兴通讯股份有限公司 (ZTE Corporation)
- Website
- https://zte.com.cn
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ZTE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Telecommunications Equipment
- NAICS
- Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334220), Radio and Television Broadcasting and Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33422), Communications Equipment Manufacturing (3342), Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing (33421)
- SIC
- Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Telephone & Telegraph Apparatus (3661), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS) (HDAHABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wireless Interface Adapters (Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/Cellular Modems) (HDAFAEAJ), Industrial/OT Private Connectivity (Factory, Mining, Ports) (HDAIAGAD), Smartphone & Feature Phone ODM/OEM Manufacturing (Contract Manufacturing) (CRACALAB)
Keywords
Where ZTE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shenzhen
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices27 records
Markets served
ZTE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Carrier network equipment and infrastructure: Largest revenue stream — sale of integrated ICT solutions (wireless access, fixed access, optical network, IP network, core network, server & storage, intelligent energy) to telecom operators globally. Includes hardware sales (5G base stations, RAN, BBU, OTN, core, server/storage), software platforms, and integrated network deployment services. Carriers contributed Q1 2026 revenue of RMB 35 billion, with computing revenue mix rising to 27%.
- Home and enterprise broadband / FTTx / Wi-Fi: Sale of home terminals (ONTs, FTTR, Mesh Wi-Fi, STBs) and enterprise networking solutions. Includes FTTR-B, Wi-Fi 7 home gateways, 10G/50G PON OLTs, and the Smart Cloud Platform. Home information terminals ranked #1 globally for four consecutive years with over 100 million annual shipments; FTTR and mobile Internet shipments both surpassed 10 million.
- Consumer devices (smartphones, mobile internet, smart home): Sale of nubia and ZTE-branded consumer products (nubia Neo 5 GT gaming phone, nubia Air Pro, nubia Z80 Ultra, REDMAGIC, nubia Pad Pro, nubia Flip 2, mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, smart home cameras, smart screens) via ztedevices.com e-commerce and global retail channels. Cumulative ZTE mobile phone sales exceeded 100 million units (2008); ZTE Blade 880 series exceeded 10 million units of a single model.
- Patent licensing and IP royalties (FRAND): FRAND licensing of ZTE's large mobile phone and network access patent portfolio; exemplified by 2025 UK court ruling that Samsung must pay ZTE $392 million lump sum for patent license. Approximately 95,000 global patent applications filed (including 5,500 AI-related), supporting sustained licensing royalty revenue.
- Managed services, digital operation, and project services: Recurring managed services and digital operations engagements (Intelligent O&M, 5G services, end-to-end network services) plus turnkey network deployment projects (e.g., E-Surfing Simulation, iEPMS-backed project delivery, full network build-outs in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Indonesia). Includes "Digital Network Deployment," "Digital Operation," and "Superb Network Construction" service lines.
- Subscription-based smart home cloud services: Recurring cloud storage and value-added smart home subscription tiers (home security, cloud camera storage, whole-home Wi-Fi) delivered through the Smart Cloud Platform to operator customers and their end users — designed to lift ARPU and reduce churn.
- Vertical industry digital solutions (energy, healthcare, finance, mining, transport, government): Industry-specific ICT solutions (smart grid with TNB, smart interventional medicine with NCRCIM, financial-sector systems, digital government, mining, metallurgy, transport) leveraging full-stack ZTE ICT + AI capabilities. Mix of hardware, software, and professional services revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | nubia Neo 5 GT gaming smartphone |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | nubia Air Pro ultra-thin smartphone |
| Subscription | Monthly | Canal+ Access+ ZTE-manufactured mini OTT decoder (Africa) |
| Usage-based | Monthly | China Telecom AI token subscription packages (ZTE partner) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | MiFibra broadband plans powered by ZTE 10G PON (Peru) |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Samsung / FRAND patent license (UK ruling) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels14 records
ZTE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ZTE designs, manufactures, and sells integrated ICT and telecommunications infrastructure to global carriers, ISPs, and enterprises across wireless (5G/5G-Advanced RAN, BBU), fixed access (10G/50G PON, FTTR-B), optical transport (400G/1.6T OTN), IP, AI-native core network, intelligent energy, and server & storage. It also sells consumer smartphones and smart home devices under the nubia and REDMAGIC brands, and licenses its patent portfolio on FRAND terms.
Product overview
ZTE Corporation operates as a global provider of integrated ICT and telecommunications solutions, organized around three primary business segments: Carrier Networks, Home and Enterprise, and Consumer (handled by its nubia and REDMAGIC sub-brands). The Carrier Networks segment delivers end-to-end AI-Native infrastructure spanning Wireless Access (5G, 5G-Advanced, RAN solutions like AIR RAN and AIR Core), Fixed Access (50G PON, FTTR-B), Optical Network (Real 400G, C+L Full-Band 1.6T OTN, HI-OTN), IP Network (HI-IPNet, HI-DCN, uSmart Athena), Core Network (Common Core, IMS, i5GC Private Core, AIR Core), Intelligent Energy, and Server and Storage. The Home and Enterprise segment provides Smart Home (FTTR-H, Mesh Wi-Fi, Smart Cloud Platform, ZTE AI Security Camera, ZTE SmartView, BE15000 Tri-band Mesh AP), Campus Network (BE19000 Tri-band XGS-PON ONT ZXHN F8749Q, Optical Business Gateway ZXA10 P610), and Micro and Small Enterprise Network (FTTR-B Combo PON Main ONT ZXEN G100A-N7C4). The Consumer segment offers nubia smartphones (Neo 5 GT, Neo 3 GT 5G, Focus 2 Ultra 5G, Z80 Ultra, Flip 2, Air Pro), REDMAGIC gaming phones, the second-generation Doubao AI Phone (jointly with ByteDance, on Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite), nubia Pad Pro tablets, and Mobile Internet products. ZTE's AI capabilities layer across the portfolio includes the ZTE Nebula Telecom Large Model (centered on Intelligent Agents), the AIR DNA solution, the Differentiation-driven Generative Network (DGN) solution, the iEPMS Intelligent Engineering Project Management System (integrating OCR, AI Agents, LLMs, RAG), and the CardioMind AI model (with NCRCIM). Vertical hot-topic solution areas include Carbon Neutrality, All Optical World, 5G Private Network, Distributed Precision Cloud, and HI-NET. ZTE serves more than 160 countries, deploying 240,000+ projects, 7 million base stations, and 240,000 km of optical cable.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nubia: Lifestyle smartphone brand under ZTE, including gaming models such as nubia Neo 5 GT, nubia Z80 Ultra, nubia Flip 2, and the Air Pro ultra-thin smartphone line.
- REDMAGIC
- ZTE Nebula (Nebula Telecom Large Model)
- ZTEMall
Products and services
- ZTE Carrier Solutions Portfolio End-to-end integrated communications and ICT solutions for global telecom operators covering wireless access (5G/5G-Advanced), fixed access (10G/50G PON, FTTR-B), optical network (Real 400G, C+L 1.6T OTN), IP network, core network (AIR Core), intelligent energy, server and storage, and managed services, deployed in 160+ countries serving one-third of the world's population.
- AIR Core ZTE's AI-native network core platform featuring agentic capabilities, personalized call assistants with enhanced voice quality, AI-driven noise cancellation, and 5G network integration for telecom operators.
- DGN (Differentiation-driven Generative Network) Solution AI and 5G-Advanced integration solution for intelligent networking that uses intelligent algorithms to dynamically allocate network resources. Field-validated with 21.5% spectrum efficiency improvement, 20% network capacity increase, 50% faster AI smartphone response times, and 43% cloud gaming latency reduction.
- iEPMS (Intelligent Engineering Project Management System) AI-powered engineering project management platform integrating OCR, AI Agents, LLMs and RAG technologies to automate quality reviews and report generation, with 98% review accuracy, 65% reduction in acceptance costs and 2.5x network activation efficiency improvement.
- Smart Cloud Platform (SCP) Unified cloud-based home network and smart home platform enabling centralized management of ONTs, Mesh APs, IP cameras; supports subscription-based cloud storage tiers and OSS/BSS integration to drive ARPU uplift.
- Real 400G Optical Transport Solution Optical transport solution delivering 400G capacity with 5,616 km record-breaking transmission distance over existing networks, leveraging the world's first 800G OTN pluggable module supporting C+L bands.
- C+L Full-Band 1.6T OTN Solution Full-band C+L optical transport network solution delivering 1.6T capacity for hyperscale and AI-era network infrastructure, supporting large-scale traffic growth for carriers and ISPs.
- AI-Powered AIOps Platform AI-driven network operations platform with intelligent O&M capabilities designed to help operators move beyond pipe-only models, reduce OPEX, and improve operational efficiency across FTTx, transport, and access networks.
- AI-Native 5G BBU (Baseband Unit) AI-Native 5G baseband unit delivering 20% increase in cell throughput and 38% reduction in equipment energy consumption, designed for carrier 5G/5G-Advanced networks.
- BE19000 Tri-band XGS-PON ONT (ZXHN F8749Q) Premium tri-band XGS-PON Optical Network Terminal supporting BE19000 aggregate wireless speeds for campus and enterprise fiber broadband deployments.
- FTTR-B Combo PON Main ONT (ZXEN G100A-N7C4) Fiber-to-the-Room Business (FTTR-B) Combo PON main ONT for small enterprise networks providing deeper fiber infrastructure and digital enterprise connectivity.
- BE15000 Tri-band Mesh AP (ZXHN H6701Q) Tri-band BE15000 mesh Wi-Fi access point for whole-home smart home coverage with high-performance wireless backhaul.
- 4K High-End Android TV STB (B866V2-H) Premium 4K High-End Android TV set-top box for IPTV and smart home entertainment services from operators.
- Far-Field Soundbar STB (S300A) Set-top box with integrated far-field soundbar for premium audio in smart home entertainment setups.
- Optical Business Gateway (ZXA10 P610) Optical business gateway for enterprise campus networks, providing high-throughput fiber connectivity with integrated routing and switching.
- TV 3.0 Set-Top Box (Brazil) Next-generation set-top box designed for the Brazilian digital TV market, supporting next-generation TV 3.0 standards and IPTV services.
- Canal+ Mini Decoder (Access+) Compact HDMI dongle decoder manufactured by ZTE for Canal+, an OTT box streaming 100,000+ programs including 4K via Wi-Fi at approximately €23/month, targeting the African market.
- nubia Neo 5 GT Gaming smartphone with built-in cooling fan, gaming AI (IA Copilot Demi 2.0 and Game Space 5.0), 6.8-inch AMOLED 144Hz display, 6,210 mAh battery with 80W fast charging, 550Hz shoulder triggers, priced under €400.
- nubia Air Pro Ultra-thin lifestyle smartphone at €449 with 5.99mm design, 5,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery, IP69K waterproof certification, and sports-focused Motion Key button.
- nubia Neo 3 GT 5G 5G gaming smartphone with Dual Gaming Shoulder Triggers, Large VC Cooling System, and Super Endurance battery for mobile gamers.
- nubia Focus 2 Ultra 5G Camera-centric 5G smartphone with unique rotatable lens ring, Ultra Sensor AI Camera, and 6.8-inch 120Hz AMOLED display.
- Second-Generation Doubao AI Phone (Nubia) Second-generation AI smartphone co-developed by ByteDance and ZTE's nubia brand, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite with on-device Doubao AI processing and standardized Agent protocols for multi-agent collaboration and privacy.
- REDMAGIC 11 Pro Premium gaming smartphone under ZTE's REDMAGIC sub-brand, featuring high-refresh-rate display, active cooling and shoulder triggers for mobile gaming.
- nubia Z80 Ultra Flagship nubia smartphone combining photography and gaming flagship features, marketed under ZTE's China consumer brand.
- ZTE AI Security Camera AI-powered security camera for smart home and SMB applications, integrated into ZTE's Smart Cloud Platform ecosystem.
- ZTE SmartView AI-powered smart home viewing/control device in ZTE's consumer smart home portfolio.
- XLSMART-ZTE Dual-Network Convergence Project ZTE-XLSMART dual-network convergence project integrating 20,000+ 4G base stations and 7,000+ new 5G sites in eight months, launching Indonesia's first nationwide 5G blanket coverage network with 73M subscribers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% AI-powered quality review accuracy; report generation time reduced from 180 minutes to 5 minutes (iEPMS)
- +8 more outcomes
Companies that use ZTE
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
ZTE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability17 records
Feature8 records
ZTE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
37 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- MoraRepublic (Indonesia)minorMOU Signing Ceremony with ZTE at MWC Shanghai 2026 titled 'Connecting Indonesia, Empowering the Future.'
- China UnicomflagshipJoint launch of UniMAX 1.0+ Solution and Innovation Demo Zone at MWC Shanghai 2026; co-developed innovative AI Home Terminals.
- Huawei (Kunpeng ecosystem), Inspur, Lenovo, H3C (China Telecom US$1.7B procurement)flagshipSix companies linked to Huawei's Kunpeng ecosystem won the larger 28,000-unit Arm-based server package of China Telecom's US$1.7 billion 2026–2027 procurement of 40,000 servers. The remaining 12,000 C86 servers went to ZTE, H3C, Inspur, and Lenovo.
- MiFibra (Peru)coreZTE 10G PON, Wi-Fi 6 terminals, and Smart Cloud Platform enable MiFibra's upgrade from 800 Mbps to 2 Gbps and a 5 Gbps premium tier in Lima; 20,000+ subscribers; plans to reach 2.5 million homes by 2026. Ookla-validated fastest fixed network in Peru for H2 2025.
- China Telecom GuangdongflagshipCo-released the E-Surfing Simulation 2.0 — Cross-Vendor IP Network Simulation Standard establishing a digital twin-based closed-loop process for pre-verification of network changes. Achieved over 95% device and routing protocol fidelity with zero errors during pilots in Foshan and Yangjiang cities covering 90%+ of mainstream network change scenarios.
- Kazakhtelecom (Kazakhstan)flagshipJoint delivery of high-speed gigabit internet to hundreds of thousands of Kazakhstani families; supports widespread adoption of online education, remote work, and 4K video.
- Beeline KazakhstanflagshipWireless infrastructure modernization with ZTE increasing coverage, average speed, and peak network throughput by more than 35%.
- CelcomDigi (Malaysia)flagshipLaunched Malaysia's first Advanced Intelligent Warehouse — 5G Standalone + AI + robotics achieving 30% space utilization optimization, 50%+ operational efficiency, and 100% inventory precision. Co-developed with Move Robotics, Infinium Robotics, Ailytics, Cobra Security Electronics (CSE), and ZTE; awarded grant under Bengkel Inovasi GLC programme.
- Red HatcoreTelecom partner showcase at DTW Ignite 2026 (Copenhagen) demonstrating distributed edge AI workloads via Intelligent Service Delivery Edge (ISDE) architecture. Red Hat provides the cloud-native OpenShift AI platform underpinning this architecture, enabling energy efficiency, continuous learning, and multi-agent coordination.
- China Mobile JiangsucoreJoint unveiling of the Intelligent Complaint Analysis Agent to reshape core network O&M.
- Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB, Malaysia)flagshipZTE showcased integrated AI, connectivity, and digital utility solutions at the TNB Energy Transition Conference supporting Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) — smart grid communications, AI-driven operational platforms, rooftop solar integration, EV charging optimization, and demand-side energy management.
- SenseTimecoreSite visits to SenseTime's AI Data Centers as part of the 2026 Engineering Capacity Building Program for ICT engineers, supporting talent development in 5G, 6G, AI, and drone technologies.
- ETB (Colombia)core$70 million project to connect 450,000 additional households in Bogotá using advanced ZTE optical infrastructure as part of Colombia's broadband transformation.
- Ucell (Uzbekistan)flagshipLarge-scale commercial deployment of ZTE's RAN AI-powered energy-saving solution across Ucell's nationwide network in Uzbekistan — energy-efficient telecom for the country's digital transformation.
- Sertis Indonesia, Whale Cloud Technology Indonesia, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence, Linknet, Fiberstar, Tower Bersama GroupminorTechnology partners participating in panel discussions and showcasing AI smartphones, AI server solutions, and Wi-Fi 7 enterprise connectivity at ZTE Day Indonesia 2026 in Jakarta.
- Millicom (Chile)corePartnership to deploy ZTE's indoor Qcell solution across Millicom's network in Chile; announced at GSMA M360 LATAM 2026 in Mexico City.
- Claro (Brazil)corePartnership to deploy ZTE's RuralPilot rural network coverage solution in the Amazon region of Brazil; supports gigabit internet, online education, remote work, and 4K video adoption.
- PT Telkom IndonesiaflagshipMemorandum of Understanding signed in Jakarta to strengthen strategic cooperation in digital solutions and infrastructure. Will deploy cloud computing, AI, and next-generation connectivity; collaboration areas include digital infrastructure, enterprise solutions, AI-enabled services, and capability building.
- Alares (Brazil)minorHired Nokia, Huawei, and ZTE for a network upgrade and has chosen them as new suppliers.
- MediaTekcoreJoint development of Wi-Fi 7 and 10G PON solutions co-presented at ZTE Broadband User Congress 2026 in São Paulo, targeting premium residential and SMB segments across Latin America.
- QualcommcorePartnership to define next-generation AI-era network infrastructure, announced at ZTE Broadband User Congress 2026 in São Paulo.
- Canal+ (Africa)coreCanal+ unveiled a compact HDMI dongle decoder manufactured by ZTE under its Access+ offer, streaming 100,000+ programs including 4K via Wi-Fi at 15,000 FCFA/month (~€23). Targeted at African market with improving internet infrastructure.
- National Clinical Research Center for Interventional Medicine (NCRCIM, China)flagshipStrategic partnership framework agreement to jointly build a new paradigm for smart interventional medicine, leveraging ZTE's full-stack ICT and AI capabilities alongside NCRCIM's CardioMind AI model. Aims to deploy AI across the full clinical cycle and potentially expand globally through ZTE's delivery network spanning 160+ countries.
- Wind Telecom (Dominican Republic)coreSuccessful commercial deployment of ZTE's Smart Cloud Platform (SCP) and intelligent home solutions; unified device management for ONTs, Mesh APs, IP Cameras; subscription-based cloud storage and home security services drive ARPU uplift and reduce churn.
- XLSMART (Indonesia)flagshipLandmark dual-network convergence project integrating 20,000+ 4G base stations and 7,000+ new 5G sites in eight months; launched Indonesia's first nationwide 5G blanket coverage network (fastest 5G in H2 2025 per Ookla, 73M subscribers). Also co-launched a joint Innovation Center in Jakarta for 5G-Advanced and AI readiness with the launch attended by senior Indonesian and Chinese government officials.
- Tencent, Alibaba, iFlytek, Huawei (China Telecom AI token ecosystem)coreCarriers including China Telecom launched token-based AI subscription packages with partnerships with Tencent, Alibaba, Huawei, ZTE, and iFlytek to package compute and model hosting as recurring revenue streams.
- Sisvel (Wi-Fi Multimode Pool)minorZTE is a licensee of the Sisvel Wi-Fi Multimode patent pool covering Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6 technologies; the pool has signed nearly 40 companies over three years including Sony, Huawei, Panasonic, Cisco, and Netgear.
- Uzbekistan Ministry of Digital TechnologiesflagshipMemorandum of Understanding signed at MWC 2026 to collaborate on modernizing Uzbekistan's telecom infrastructure (data centers, high-speed internet, 6G, satellite communications). Regional Service Center opened in Uzbekistan IT Park in April 2026 to support regional cooperation and IT exports.
- ByteDanceflagshipJoint development of the Doubao AI phone under ZTE's nubia brand — a second-generation device featuring Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite platform with on-device AI processing and standardized Agent protocols. First model launched December 2025 sold out its initial 30,000-unit run.
- Al-Farabi Kazakh National UniversitycoreCreation of one of Central Asia's most powerful supercomputer data centers at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University to support AI research, climate modeling, and Kazakh large language model development.
- China United Electronics (Zhongnuo Communications)coreJoint development and contract manufacturing partner for the second-generation Doubao AI phone with ZTE's nubia brand and ByteDance.
- Orange MoroccocoreJoint launch of Livebox 7 — world's first prplOS 4.0 ONT for smart home — at MWC Barcelona 2026.
- China TelecomflagshipCo-developed the Differentiation-driven Generative Network (DGN) solution launched at MWC Barcelona 2026. Field validation in the Yangtze River Delta (Zhejiang and Shanghai) demonstrated 21.5% spectrum efficiency improvement, 20%+ capacity increase, 50% faster AI smartphone response, and 43% reduction in cloud gaming latency.
- Samsung Electronics (FRAND patent licensee)flagshipUK High Court ruled on May 1, 2026 that Samsung must pay ZTE a $392 million lump sum for a FRAND licence to use ZTE's mobile phone patents; ruling exceeds Samsung's maximum argument of $200 million but falls short of ZTE's $731 million sought. Parallel lawsuits ongoing in China, Germany, Brazil.
- U Mobile (Malaysia)core5G-Advanced technology field trial and live use case demonstrations with CelcomDigi and ZTE for real-time live broadcasting using AI and digital solutions.
- Turkcell (Türkiye)flagshipWorld record 800 Gbps data transfer over 2,000 km with ZTE; co-developed next-generation Superbox with 5G and Wi-Fi 7 support (with Netaş).
- Telefónica GermanycoreZTE implemented a zero-carbon energy solution for a Telefónica telecom site, providing a successful case for future applications and challenges for rural supply.
Scale indicators17 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ZTE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Huawei Technologies: Huawei is ZTE's primary direct competitor across 5G/5G-Advanced RAN, optical transport, IP networks, core networks, and consumer devices. Both are Chinese full-stack telecom equipment vendors serving global carriers; Huawei typically ranks #1 globally in RAN share, with ZTE consistently #2 — making Huawei the most direct comparable for product portfolio, customer overlap, and geopolitical risk profile.
- Ericsson: Ericsson is one of the three Western full-stack 5G RAN and core network vendors (alongside Nokia and Samsung) competing head-to-head with ZTE in carrier 5G deployments globally. Direct comparable for 5G base stations, 5G core, managed services, and AI-native RAN offerings targeting tier-1 operators in Europe, Americas, and Asia.
- Nokia: Nokia competes directly with ZTE in 5G RAN, fixed access, optical transport, and IP routing — including in the AI-native networking transition (Nokia's anyRAN and AI-RAN initiatives). Both vendors compete for the same tier-1 carrier customers and serve similar mid-market operator segments globally.
- Samsung Networks: Samsung Networks competes with ZTE in 5G RAN (ranked top-5 globally per Dell'Oro Q1 2026) and supplies core/fixed network solutions, particularly in Korea, Japan, and the US. As the counterparty in ZTE's landmark Samsung FRAND patent dispute ($392M UK ruling), Samsung is also a relevant peer for IP licensing economics.
Broad incumbents
- Cisco Systems: Cisco is a broad incumbent in IP networking, optical transport, and enterprise networking — overlapping with ZTE's IP network, optical, and enterprise campus portfolio. While Cisco focuses on routing/switching/data center rather than RAN, it competes for the same carrier capex budgets in IP/transport and serves many of the same operator and enterprise customers.
- NEC Corporation: NEC is a Japanese incumbent telecom equipment vendor offering 5G RAN (notably with its open RAN partnership with NTT DoCoMo), optical, and server/storage products. NEC competes with ZTE in Open RAN and Asia-Pacific carrier deals, particularly in Japan and Southeast Asia, but with a smaller global footprint.
- Fujitsu: Fujitsu competes with ZTE in 5G RAN (especially in Japan through NTT DoCoMo and Rakuten's open RAN deployments), optical networking, and IT services. As a Japanese broad incumbent, Fujitsu is comparable in product breadth but with a more regionally concentrated customer base.
- Ciena: Ciena is a leading optical transport and networking specialist that competes directly with ZTE's OTN portfolio, including in 800G/1.6T pluggable optics and AI-era transport. Both vendors target hyperscale and carrier transport upgrades, with Ciena focused predominantly on optical while ZTE offers a much broader portfolio.
Emerging players
- Mavenir: Mavenir is a US-based cloud-native network software vendor focused on Open RAN and 5G core software. It competes with ZTE's AIR Core and RAN portfolio in the emerging Open RAN and AI-native core categories, particularly with carriers seeking vendor diversification away from Chinese suppliers — making it both a competitor and a beneficiary of the same geopolitical dynamics affecting ZTE.
Regional players
- Tejas Networks: Tejas Networks is an Indian optical and wireless equipment vendor (acquired by Tata Group) that competes with ZTE in 10G/50G PON, optical transport, and 4G/5G RAN — primarily across Indian and South Asian carriers. It is a regional player with comparable technology focus but geographically distinct market overlap.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ZTE social profiles
Digital presenceZTE compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
ZTE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ZTE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
ZTE subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
ZTE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ZTE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments10 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ZTE
What does ZTE do?
ZTE designs, manufactures, and sells integrated ICT and telecommunications infrastructure to global carriers, ISPs, and enterprises across wireless (5G/5G-Advanced RAN, BBU), fixed access (10G/50G PON, FTTR-B), optical transport (400G/1.6T OTN), IP, AI-native core network, intelligent energy, and server & storage. It also sells consumer smartphones and smart home devices under the nubia and REDMAGIC brands, and licenses its patent portfolio on FRAND terms.
Is ZTE a public or private company?
ZTE is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was ZTE founded?
ZTE was founded in 1997. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is ZTE based?
ZTE is headquartered in Shenzhen, China, in the Asia region.
How does ZTE make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Carrier network equipment and infrastructure is the primary driver. The others are home and enterprise broadband / FTTx / Wi-Fi, consumer devices (smartphones, mobile internet, smart home), patent licensing and IP royalties (FRAND), managed services, digital operation, and project services, subscription-based smart home cloud services and vertical industry digital solutions (energy, healthcare, finance, mining, transport, government).
Who are ZTE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Huawei Technologies, Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung Networks. Broad incumbents are Cisco Systems, NEC Corporation, Fujitsu and Ciena. Mavenir is listed as an emerging player. Tejas Networks is listed as a regional player.
Does ZTE have an API?
Yes. ZTE operates an Order Visibility web portal for telecom carrier customers and an iPartner channel portal for partners, suggesting API access for B2B integration. They also offer an ECCN (Export Control Classification Number) query tool and developer-style support portals for consumer handsets and telecom equipment. Specific public REST/GraphQL documentation, SDKs, authentication methods, rate limits, and sandbox availability are not described in the source material. Developer documentation is at support.zte.com.cn/zte-iccp-isupport-webui/support/home?lang=en_US.
What industry is ZTE in?
ZTE's product category is Telecommunications Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHABAA, Mobile & Wireless Connectivity SoCs (Modem/Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/GNSS), with a secondary code of HDAFAEAJ, Wireless Interface Adapters (Wi‑Fi/Bluetooth/Cellular Modems). Its NAICS code is 334220 and its SIC code is 3576.