ZTE said it expects to see a sharp increase in Q1 profit, reflecting “the strengthening of core operations” as 4G orders provide a lift.

The company is expecting net profit to increase “between 107.3 per cent and 210.7 per cent”, putting it in the CNY425 million ($68.4 million) to CNY637 million range.

ZTE said that it continued to focus on servicing higher-margin contracts. Operating revenue for 4G infrastructure systems in China as a percentage of overall revenue increased, while gross profit margin for international projects improved.

It also noted that it is “optimistic about the company’s business prospects as global 4G network deployments accelerate and demand for 4G mobile devices increase”.

According to Reuters, in addition to ZTE benefiting from the 4G infrastructure rollout in China, the company also hopes to shift 24 million 4G handsets worldwide during the year, representing around 40 per cent of its 60 million smartphone target.

ZTE recently announced it had returned to the black for the full year 2013, after seeing a loss in the prior-year period.