Chinese telecom equipment firm Huawei is targeting to almost triple its smartphone shipments to India to 3 million units during the current year through December, as it aims to deepen its presence in the world’s second-biggest market for such devices, according to Allen Wang, president, consumer device business group, Huawei India. During 2015, Huawei India had more-than-doubled its smartphone shipments into the country to reach one million handsets.
“India will be the most important country for Huawei,” Wang told FE.
Huawei had ventured into making and selling mobile phone handsets in 2010, as demand for its telecom equipment was tepid amid an economic slowdown around the globe. The firm currently sells smartphones using two brands, the flagship Huawei targeting at affordable range of handsets, and a second brand Honor, aimed at young and tech-savvy users. Its latest feat was making the Google Nexus P handset, in partnership with the internet giant.
Wang said Huawei would still focus on affordable segments starting with a smartphone priced below R10,000 per piece to gain market share in the current year, since almost 70-80% of the sales came from this segment in 2015.