Hutchison Signs Exclusive 3G Deal with ZTE

October 20, 2005 - source: BWCS

Chinese telecoms kit and mobile handset manufacturer ZTE Corp has reportedly signed a major deal to supply Hutchison Whampoa with up to three new 3G models. According to the South China Morning Post, ZTE has reached an agreement to supply its new 3G handsets exclusively to Hutchison 3G Italia and 3G UK.

The newspaper reported a spokeswoman for the Hong Kong based conglomerate, which hopes to float off its Italian operations later this year, confirming the deal. The first raft of handsets will, apparently, be shipped in December 2005 or January 2006. Depending on how well the phones do in the Italian and UK markets the deal may be extended to include the other ten countries where Hutchison has a 3G licence.

The giant Chinese manufacturer has already indicated that it intends to boost its production of mobile phones to between 15 million and 18 million units this year. In 2004 it produced only 10 million handsets. ZTE hopes to have six 3G phones on the market by the end of the year.