China launches first batch of ‘Starlink rival’ satellites

China is a step closer to establishing its own version of Starlink with the successful launch of 18 “Qianfan” satellites aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket. The launch took place on Tuesday from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi Province.

These satellites represent the first instalment of the ambitious Qianfan megaconstellation project, also known as G60. Unveiled in 2023, the project aims to provide comprehensive and high-quality communication services to users...

8 August 2024 | Hot Topics

Huawei’s upcoming chip may break China’s 7nm barrier

Chinese tech giant Huawei continues to defy expectations, steadily reclaiming its position in the global smartphone market despite weathering over five years of stringent US sanctions. Showcasing remarkable resilience and innovation, the company's recent chip development and smartphone sales advances paint a picture that transcends mere corporate resilience.

Huawei's journey through the sanctions storm began in 2019 when the Trump administration, citing national security concerns,...

7 August 2024 | China Mobile

Vivo leads, Apple falls: The changing face of China’s smartphone industry

China's smartphone market has dramatically transformed, with domestic brands now reigning supreme in the world's largest mobile market. For the first time in recent times, Apple has been edged out of mainland China's top five vendors list.

According to the latest market research firm Canalys report, local Chinese manufacturers have achieved an unprecedented feat, securing all five top positions in the second quarter of 2024.

The Chinese smartphone market...

30 July 2024 | Telecoms

Germany prolongs banning Chinese 5G equipment

Germany has announced plans to ban critical components made by Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks, citing security concerns. The decision – revealed by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Thursday – will be implemented in two phases starting in 2026, with a longer timeline than initially expected.

Under the new agreement, critical components from Huawei and ZTE will be barred from 5G core networks by the end of 2026, a year later than previously envisaged....

11 July 2024 | 5G

Chinese telcos given 2027 deadline to ditch foreign chips

To reduce dependence on foreign technologies, Chinese officials have reportedly mandated the country's leading telecom operators – including China Telecom, China Mobile, and China Unicom – to eliminate foreign semiconductors from their networks by 2027.

Beijing’s directive particularly targets chips made by American giants Intel and AMD, which have been a staple in Chinese telecom infrastructure.

Issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the...

15 April 2024 | 5G

Cybersecurity agencies issue warning over Chinese hacking group

Government cybersecurity authorities in the US and allied nations are sounding the alarm bell again over the Chinese hacking group known as Volt Typhoon.

In a joint advisory issued on Tuesday, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), FBI, and eight international partners warned that the Beijing-backed Volt Typhoon gang may be gearing up for disruptive or destructive cyber strikes targeting critical infrastructure...

20 March 2024 | Legislation & Government

Surveillance balloons spotted over the US and Canada

High-altitude surveillance balloons have been spotted by US and Canadian authorities over their respective territories.

The first balloon was spotted in the US over sensitive American national security installations, including the Malmstrom Air Force Base. 150 nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles are located at the base.

The Pentagon claims the balloon belongs to China. Beijing has not taken responsibility but says that it’s looking into the...

3 February 2023 | Legislation & Government

Musk says Beijing disapproved of Starlink’s rollout in Ukraine

According to Elon Musk, Beijing made clear that it disapproved of Starlink’s rollout in Ukraine.

Russia attempted to sever Ukraine’s connectivity in the early stages of its invasion. The aggressor even targeted satellite operators like Viasat, which spread to neighbouring countries and risked triggering a collective NATO response.

Starlink was quickly rolled out in Ukraine to help the country defend itself, ensure it doesn’t become isolated, and document Russia’s...

11 October 2022 | Legislation & Government

Solomon Islands secures $66M from China for Huawei towers

The Solomon Islands has secured a $66 million loan from China to build 161 mobile towers built and supplied by Huawei.

Under the terms of the deal, the island nation will receive a 20-year concessional loan from the state-linked Exim Bank of China. The government of the Solomon Islands called it “a historical financial partnership” between the two countries.

Western officials believe Beijing could use the security pact to build a military base in the Solomon Islands....

19 August 2022 | 5G

China Broadnet becomes the country’s fourth mobile operator

China has gained a fourth mobile operator as China Broadnet begins offering services in the country.

The operator was established in 2020 as the China Broadcasting Network (CBN) but never offered any services.

Earlier this month, there was a sign that something was afoot when CBN rebranded to China Broadnet. Alongside that announcement, China Broadnet began taking reservations for numbers.

To reserve their desired number, customers had to pay an upfront fee of...

27 June 2022 | 5G