Linda Han, public affairs VP in charge of Huawei France, announced that the Chinese equipment maker will buy goods and services worth EUR 4 billion in France over the next four years, representing a two-fold increase from its spend in the country over the last four years. Speaking to Les Echos, Han explained that investments will increase with the planned 4G/5G equipment factory, announced at the end of February. Additionally, the company intends to open its sixth French R&D facility, set to employ 30 researchers in Paris, and bring the number of Huawei-branded stores to four, as the existing flagship store near the Paris Opera will be joined in the future by three new shops across the capital’s metropolitan area.
Commenting on the planned equipment factory, Han confirmed that it will recruit 500 employees. Land purchase for the facility should be finalised by the end of the year, with the opening scheduled in 2022.
Asked about the restrictions imposed on Huawei’s 5G equipment, Han said that the company remained confident on future developments and was ready to collaborate with ANSSI, the French security agency responsible for the procurement regime put in place by the government at the end of 2019. She noted that Huawei’s 5G equipment had been tested by Thales CESTI over a seven-month period based on ANSSI’s guidelines, showing no security risks.
Han also expressed optimism on the company’s progress in developing its own app store, presenting 96,000 mobile applications in the space of a year. Huawei smartphones have remained popular among French consumers, she said, with an 18 percent share of the handset market.
