Foxconn to make iPhone displays – report

Apple reportedly will tap Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, to produce sapphire screens for the next generation of iPhones.

Foxconn is said to have reached a deal with Apple and plans to build a new factory in Henan province, where it already assembles iPhones, the China Economic Weekly reported. The factory would be in the north of the Zhengzhou Airport Economic Development Zone.

The company could make $45-52.50 per iPhone if it can produce the stronger touchscreens by itself, the China Post said.

ZTE demos massive MIMO base station
ZTE has completed pre-commercial field tests of what it calls the first pre-5G massive MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) base stations in partnership with China Mobile.

The vendor used its 64-port/128 antenna 3D/massive MIMO base station to demonstrate improved coverage in tall buildings and showed the success of the technology over existing intelligent antennas in complicated, multi-path urban and indoor environments.

The company said in a statement the improved performance enabled by its vector processor SOC chipset brings massive MIMO, a key technology for 5G, a step closer to commercial reality.

Liu Guangyi, from China Mobile Research Institute, said the test increases its confidence in advancing 3D/Massive MIMO ahead of the expected schedule.

China to open up broadband market
China plans to open up the broadband access market in 16 cities to private enterprises as part of a three-year pilot project.

The country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued guidelines that encourage enterprises to invest, build and operate broadband access network infrastructure.

The MIIT stated that the main three telecoms operators “shall not sign exclusive agreements with private enterprises, and dynamic adjustment mechanism of prices should be established”, according to C114.net.

Participating enterprises need a registered capital of CNY20 million ($3.25 million) and should have three years working experience in telecom industry.

Free citywide WiFi in southwest city
Foxconn Electronics, Alibaba and 21 Vianet Group have agreed to provide the city of Guiyang in southwestern China with free citywide WiFi coverage.

The first phase of the project starts in June and the citywide network is scheduled to be completed in three years, Digitimes reported.

Foxconn also signed an agreement with the Guiyang city government to jointly set up an e-commerce platform, which it will operate.