#IFA 18 – With carriers quickly launching 5G networks, it means that smartphone makers need to step up their game and start producing handsets that will support the new mobile connectivity standard. Earlier this year ZTE announced that they will launch 5G smartphones by 2019, but unfortunately it looks like the company’s plans might have been delayed.
During IFA 2018 this week, ZTE spoke about its 5G technology, and hidden during the presentation was how the company’s first 5G smartphone is only expected to launch in the second half of 2019. This is a huge delay compared to earlier this year when the company had actually aimed to bring 5G smartphones to the market by 2019.
ZTE did not mention why their plans had been delayed, so if you were looking forward to a 5G ZTE smartphone, you’ll have to wait. That being said, 2018 has not been a good year for the company. They were almost forced to shutdown when they were banned from sourcing components from the US.
They were also recently banned from supplying 5G equipment to Australia, all of which we imagine has taken a toll on the company’s operations. That being said it could be related to something else entirely, but either way we won’t be expecting 5G ZTE smartphones anytime soon.