Huawei announces 5G smartphone based on own technology

Richard Yu, CEO of the Huawei consumer business group speaks as he unveils the wireless router running with 5G modem Balong 5000 chipset in Beijing, Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019. Chinese tech giant Huawei has announced plans to release a next-generation smartphone based on its own technology instead of U.S. components, stepping up efforts to compete with global industry leaders. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

BEIJING: Chinese tech giant Huawei announced plans Jan 23 to release a next-generation smartphone based on its own technology instead of US components, stepping up efforts to compete with Western industry leaders in the face of Washington’s warnings the company might be a security risk.  

Huawei Technologies Ltd, the biggest global supplier of network switching gear for phone companies, is spending heavily to develop its own chip technology, an area where American vendors are global leaders. That can help reduce Huawei’s multibillion-dollar annual bill for components and the risk of disruptions of US supplies.