ZTE Corporation

Chinese telecom equipment maker and smartphone brand

What ZTE does

ZTE builds the equipment that makes phone and internet networks work — wireless base stations, wired broadband gear, core network systems, and servers and storage that telecom operators use to run their services. It also makes consumer devices such as smartphones, home broadband terminals and mobile internet gadgets, along with the software and value-added services that go with them. A third arm sells technology solutions — communications networks, IoT, big data and cloud computing — to governments and large companies.

How ZTE makes money

ZTE sells network infrastructure equipment and systems to telecom carriers, typically through large multi-year contracts, and sells consumer terminals such as smartphones and home devices through retail and operator channels. A third revenue stream comes from selling informatization projects, products and services to government and enterprise customers, supplemented by software applications and value-added services.

Products & services

• Wireless and wireline access equipment for carrier networks
• Bearer systems and core network systems
• Servers and storage products
• Smartphones and mobile internet terminals
• Home information terminals and fusion terminals
• Government and enterprise solutions using IoT, big data and cloud computing