Ambitious Chinese device maker ZTE said it expects 4G devices will account for 40 per cent of its total shipments this year, as it forecast increased profit driven by its 4G infrastructure activities.

The company said that the increase follows the launch of new LTE multiband smartphones this year. This includes a 4G version of its Qing Yang 2 smartphone for operator China Telecom, which was unveiled late last month, and is one of the first batch of LTE devices offered by the operator.

ZTE said that the previous, non-4G Qing Yang 2 saw more than two million pre-orders in the first week after its launch.

With regard to its devices business, ZTE also trumpeted “strong performance in the US”, especially in the prepay handset market, “benefiting from the availability of new innovative products and cooperation with partners”.