NEC Exits Mobile Network Race, Abandons Base Station Development

NEC Corporation, a major Japanese technology company, has stopped developing new 4G and 5G base stations. This equipment forms the core of mobile phone networks. The decision ends NEC's direct competition with giants like Huawei, Ericsson, and Nokia. The company's global market share for this equipment had fallen below 1%. NEC will now focus its telecom business on developing software for existing networks. It will also supply its remaining base station inventory to existing customers. NEC plans to shift resources to other growing fields. These include private 5G networks for factories and the development of next-generation 6G technology. A company spokesperson confirmed the strategic change. This move highlights the intense competition in the global telecom infrastructure market. A few large suppliers now dominate the business of building national mobile networks.