Thailand’s third largest mobile operator has announced that it is set to axe 1,000 jobs despite posting a sharp increase in its net profit in Q4 2017. Dtac is embarking on an aggressive and robust cost-cutting program in an effort to put the telecommunications firm back on a solid financial footing.
US operator Verizon has decided to scrap its plans to sell Huawei smartphones as pressure on Chinese technology companies from the US government continues to intensify amidst security concerns.
Qualcomm and Samsung have strengthened their relationship, which could help the mobile chipmaker fend off its antitrust case in South Korea. As part of an expanded cross-license agreement, Samsung “will be withdrawing its interventions” into Qualcomm’s appeal against an $868 million fine announced in 2016 over what the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) deemed “excessive” licensing fees.
China has been projected to lead the global adoption of 5G technology by 2023, according to research compiled by CCS Insight. CCS Insight have claimed that the country’s booming market will ensure and facilitate that 5G is quicker out of the starting blocks than any other previous mobile technology.
Malaysia’s three major mobile operators have all agreed to renew their spectrum licenses in the 2.1GHz band. It was disclosed that each operator paid MYR118.4 ($30.5 million) to renew their licensing agreements with the regulatory commission in the country.
Three of South Korea’s leading telecommunication players have been hit with stinging fines for their role in illegal handset subsidies. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) publicly announced that it has issued fines to SK Telecom, KT and LG U-plus.
Chinese telecommunications colossus ZTE has announced it plans on raising $2bn through share placement in an effort to generate the capital it requires in order to accelerate its 5G technology development.
China suffered its first ever annual smartphone decline, with shipments down 4% from 2016 to 459 million units in 2017, Canalys research indicates. This drop was partly due to China having one of its worst year-on-year performances in Q4 2017, with shipments plummeting by over 14% to just under 113 million units.
Japan’s largest mobile operator has reported strong growth across almost all of its business lines in what was a rip-roaring Q3 for NTT Docomo. The telecommunications incumbent in Japan enjoyed a sharp increase in its net profit.
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated held the 2018 Qualcomm China Tech Day in Beijing. At the event, Qualcomm Technologies and leading Chinese manufacturers expressed interest in working together in an initiative to support China’s smartphone industry for the global opportunities that will be made available by 5G and introduce 5G New Radio (NR) standard-compliant commercial devices expected as early as 2019, announced as the “5G Pioneer” Initiative.
