Market share of 5G equipment in China 2023, by provider

As of 2023, 58 percent of all 5G base stations in China had been manufactured by Huawei. Its closest competitor was ZTE with a market share of 31 percent. Both telecom manufacturers have maintained a similar market share throughout all bidding rounds since 2020.

5G roll out

The Chinese telecommunication industry was at the global forefront when it came to bringing 5G mobile internet to its customers. With strong government support, the three big companies invested heavily in the construction of the country's 5G network. As a result, China had comprehensive 5G coverage that provided high-speed mobile internet to almost 600 million 5G users.

Foreign tech in the Chinese telecom market?

The 5G equipment market was dominated by domestic manufacturers but foreign brands also get a piece of the pie. While some countries saw the inclusion of foreign technology in critical infrastructure as a risk to national security, Chinese telecom companies also accepted bids from European manufacturers. Although they only accounted for eight percent of the market, it still generated significant revenue for Ericsson and Nokia.