SHENZHEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZTE, (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced total annual sales volume of terminal products jumped nearly 50% to a record number of 90 million units in 2010.

ZTE’s terminal product sales experienced rapid growth in both international and domestic markets. By 2010, the growth in both local and high-end overseas markets such as Japan, France, the UK and the U.S. has become the main sources of demand for ZTE handsets. The fastest-growing market was in Europe where year-on-year sales volume growth reached 150%. The U.S. market achieved year-on-year growth of 100%.

Separately, ZTE was ranked No.1 among Chinese vendors in terms of 3G handset sales volume, according to a research report by market research firm iSuppli. The report also noted that ZTE is leading China’s incremental market for 3G systems with an 11% share and is ranked No. 1 in the TD market with a 21% market share.

This increasing presence of Chinese manufacturers can be attributed in part to the growing popularity of the Android mobile platform, which has created new opportunities for Chinese vendors, including ZTE. ZTE has also won major tenders from leading Chinese operators, enabling the company to quickly become a leading player in China’s mainstream 3G handset market.

iSuppli noted that 3G smartphones priced at below RMB1000 are popular among Chinese consumers -- a segment in which ZTE is exceptionally strong. For example, the price of ZTE’s N600 Android 3G smartphone is under RMB1000, allowing ZTE to secure a record 80%, or 240,000, of the 300,000 units to be purchased by China Telecom.

Globally, the rapid adoption of high-end smartphones further promoted the ZTE brand across virtually all markets. ZTE’s bestselling Blade mobile smartphone model (known as V880 in China) has been made available in more than 20 high-end markets including the UK, France, Germany, Finland, Norway, Turkey, Hungary and Japan. Demand was so strong that the product sold out by the first weekend after its launch in countries like Germany, Greece and Hungary. Monthly sales unit volume continued to grow and was up by tens of thousands.

To compete in the integrated terminal arena, ZTE Light, a 7-inch tablet PC with a voice call capability, has been launched in the overseas markets. ZTE’s mobile broadband products, including the Light tablet, achieved 80% year-on-year sales growth in 2010.

This was seen again in China Mobile’s bid for 6.15 million units of TD phones at the end of the year, where ZTE sold 1.575 million units to become No.1 among all the suppliers. ZTE is expected to sell 120 million units of all its terminal products globally in 2011. The company plans to improve its global branding and to become one of the top 3 handset vendors worldwide in five years’ time.

About ZTE

ZTE is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions with the most comprehensive product range covering virtually every sector of the wireline, wireless, service and terminals markets. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to over 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them to meet the changing needs of their customers while achieving continued revenue growth. ZTE’s 2009 revenue led the industry with a 36% increase to USD 8,820.7 million. ZTE commits 10 percent of its revenue to research and development and takes a leading role in a wide range of international bodies developing emerging telecoms standards. A company with sound corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, ZTE is a member of the UN Global Compact. ZTE is China’s only listed telecom manufacturer, publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.