Belgium’s wireless technology company Option NV (OPTI.BRU) has reached an agreement with Huawei and will drop its unfair trade complaints, the Wall Street Journal reported. The deal will allow Huawei to conduct joint research and development programs with Option, possibly in a new joint research center in Belgium. Huawei will license Option’s software for US$37.4 million for the first year, and will purchase the firm’s semiconductor company M4S. Option had filed complaints with the EU’s European Commission that Huawei and ZTE were selling their wares at below-market prices, and the Commission earlier this year considered placing duties on wireless modems from China. Option had dominated the European market for modems in 2006, with about 70% market share. Today, modems imported from China make up 95% of the market.
Categories