Following reports that the United States is no longer forcing Germany to ban Huawei's 5G technology, the Chinese tech giant reportedly indicated that it is fine with selling its 5G Balong 5000 chipsets to American tech provider, Apple.
According to Engadget, an insider with knowledge of the situation told the outlet that Huawei is now "open" to selling its formerly exclusive 5G chipsets to a potential sole partner: Apple.
Industry analysts noted that a collaborative project between Apple and Huawei would be one of the most unusual partnerships. China's leading tech provider is not an expert in chip sales. However, the cooperation may come if the U.S. government starts softening up for real.
The news came after it was reported that the U.S. government is no longer pushing Germany to ban the Chinese provider's 5G technology. Instead, the Trump administration is reportedly asking the German government to impose stricter rules and security measures.
German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung reported on Sunday that senior U.S. officials are "highly satisfied" with the European country's regulations and policies on 5G technology. The newspaper cited local government sources who gave information on a condition of anonymity.
Previously, President Donald Trump's administration threatened to limit its intel exchange with Germany if the European state refuses to ban Huawei from its 5G projects. However, industry analysts pointed out that the U.S. government may have started considering a softer stance against the Chinese tech behemoth.
"What the United States is urging allies to do is institute security processes that include, among other factors, looking at whether any particular vendor is subject to unchecked or extrajudicial control by a foreign power that could direct that vendor to break host country laws or undermine security," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in an email to CNET.
Huawei has repeatedly denied security-related allegations by the U.S. government. The Trump administration, on the other hand, has failed to release evidence on its accusations against the Chinese smartphone maker.
Meanwhile, Huawei continues to rise above the challenges it faced last year. The company exceeded revenue of $100 billion in 2018. According to BBC News, revenue reached 721.2 billion yuan, approximately $107 billion. Global revenue saw a hike of 19.5 percent, the fastest growth pace yet in two years.
Huawei is currently the world's largest telecom equipment maker and provider. The Honor maker has lodged a lawsuit against the American government following multiple allegations that the company deems are "unconstitutional."
