By Jun Ji-hye

Huawei appears to be desperate to supply its fifth-generation (5G) network equipment to KT after failing to be included among SK Telecom's selected suppliers, industry analysts said Tuesday.



They said Huawei has made an "attractive" offer to Korea's second-largest wireless service provider _ saying it would provide long-term evolution (LTE) network equipment for free if the company chooses the Chinese 5G network equipment to construct nationwide commercial infrastructure.





KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu

The offer was construed as targeting KT, given that SK Telecom, the nation's top mobile carrier, already excluded the Chinese firm, picking Samsung Electronics, Nokia and Ericsson as the preferred bidders for its 5G network equipment, Sept. 14.



LG Uplus, the smallest player, used Huawei's equipment when constructing infrastructure for LTE networks in 2013, and has signaled that it will buy 5G network equipment from Huawei.



Korean telecom companies are set to launch the world's first commercial 5G service next March. They need to select equipment partners by this month at the latest, given that it is expected to take about four to five months to construct nationwide networks.



Through the offer, Huawei is apparently attempting to resolve doubts over the security of its products as well as a compatibility issue between LTE and 5G equipment.



When excluding the Chinese firm from its 5G partners, SK Telecom reportedly placed great importance on whether 5G equipment was compatible with LTE networks, as it is inevitable 5G will have to interwork with LTE in the initial phase of its commercial services.



From KT's point of view, it would be more efficient to choose Samsung Electronics, Nokia and Ericsson as its 5G partners, as SK Telecom did, because the firm already uses the three firms' LTE equipment.





Huawei Korea CEO Shawn Meng