ZTE to launch its first 5G smartphone by 2019
Chinese phone maker ZTE will reportedly launch its first 5G smartphone in the United States of America by early next year, the company confirmed. If this happens, it will essentially make ZTE smartphones the first of all 5G devices in the US market. Here is what the company has to say about the news.
Launch depends on availability of 5G network: CEO
ZTE Mobile Devices Business CEO Lixin Cheng said that the company plans to launch the smartphone by either late 2018 or early 2019. He added that the launch also depended on other external factors like the availability of fifth generation network in the US. The company is also looking into other devices like a 5G tablet and a wireless internet hub, he said.
US govt seeks to ban ZTE phones in the country
While ZTE is gearing up for the big launch, the US government is reportedly working on a bill that will ban the use of Huawei and ZTE smartphones in the country. This comes after ZTE breached US sanctions on Iran last year and was fined $1.2 billion for the same. In fact, a Texas government official has already introduced a bill in this regard.
ZTE to conduct pre-5G trials in India
Closer home, ZTE has partnered with telecom service providers like Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone for conducting pre-5G trials in India. The company is expected to play a big role in developing such future technologies in collaboration with Indian telecom service providers. Only last month, even Ericsson demonstrated its new 5G technology in the country.
