Shenzhen-based telecommunications network equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co.'s overseas sales were likely to account for more than half its total revenue next year, a senior executive said.

"Overseas sales are expected to grow at a faster pace than domes-tic sales, and could exceed more than half of total sales next year," said Huawei's marketing director for mobile terminals, Alan Hsu.

"We expect sales around the globe to reach US$7 billion next year, with a 10th of that generated by handset sales," said Hsu.

For this year, he said Huawei was expected to record revenue of more than US$5 billion, with overseas sales generating more than US$2 billion.

On Monday, Huawei launched the first third-generation (3G) telecom handsets made by a Chinese company.

The handsets, modeled U626 and U326, support universal mobile telecommunications system, the 3G wireless standard that includes WCDMA, or wide-band code division multiple access, and TD-SCDMA, or Time Division Synchronous-CDMA, China's homegrown CDMA standard.
The units will be produced in February next year.

"With these new products, Huawei now has a solid foundation in 3G technology. Going forward, we'll further expand our product range based on the needs of our customers," said Hsu.

As uncertainties regarding China's policy on the 3G technology and licenses linger, Hsu said the company would be "sufficiently ready" to react to whatever the outcome of the government's policy on this technology.

The Chinese Government has yet to make public when and how many 3G licenses will be awarded, and what kind of standard it will use.

The three standards being considered are WCDMA, CDMA2000 and the country's own TD-SCDMA.

At the end of last year, Sunday Communications Ltd., a Hong Kong mobile operator with a 10 percent market share, contracted Huawei to build and maintain its 3G network in a deal worth HK$859 million.

Hsu said Sunday's 3G network was "ready" but the timing of the launch would partly depend on market conditions.

The executive said Huawei had nothing to disclose on the possibility of its shares being listed.

Huawei's competitor, ZTE Corp., is planning to list in Hong Kong before the end of next year to raise US$350 million, according to sources.

(Shenzhen Daily November 17, 2004)