Huawei Technologies

Founded in 1988, Huawei has become one of the largest suppliers of fixed-line telecom equipment in China.

The Chinese giant has been diversifying into new areas of equipment such as wireless and enterprise gear, and remains upbeat on its future. Huawei continues to expand its product and customer portfolios globally, with significant customer wins outside China such as British Telecom and Korea Telecom.

While it aims to become a global company with overseas revenues that make up 70 percent of total earnings, Huawei needs to maintain its focus with an expanding product portfolio.

The fact that 3G licenses have yet to be issued in China puts Huawei in a precarious position in a competitive 3G infrastructure market. It also faces challenges in breaking into the top-tier European and North American operator market where 3G deals have already been inked.

The company has also established several partnerships with American and European companies. Specifically, it has launched a joint venture with 3Com to sell business switching and routing gear.

But Huawei is not without its legal troubles on its road to success. In 2003, Cisco filed a lawsuit against Huawei, claiming the Chinese company stole and copied pieces of its software and user manuals. In November, the companies suspended the lawsuit after Huawei made changes to some of its products.