A Chinese competition regulator has “substantial evidence” that Qualcomm fixed prices in the country, a senior official told China Daily.

The comments about the US-based chipmaker were attributed to Xu Kunlin, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), according to the report.

A Qualcomm representative in China did not comment on the remarks when contacted by Reuters.

Qualcomm said in November that an investigation into its activities under local anti-monopoly law had commenced.

At that point the NDRC had not told Qualcomm any more about its investigation and the company said it was not aware that it had violated any laws.

“We will continue to cooperate with the NDRC as it conducts its confidential investigation,” a Qualcomm statement added.

Chinese antitrust agencies said they will target industries in which “unreasonably” high consumer prices could result from business practices — including telecommunications.

Analysts speculated the Qualcomm investigation might also be a move by China to boost local competitors, including Spreadtrum Communications.

Qualcomm’s share of the LTE chipset market stood at more than 98 per cent in 2012, according to Will Strauss, an analyst with Forward Concepts, quoted by The Wall Street Journal.

Qualcomm is hoping that the country’s award of 4G licenses will be a boost for the company, which licenses its technology to vendors building these networks, as well as device players supporting 4G.

“Globally, Qualcomm has more than 250 3G CDMA licensees, including more than 110 3G CDMA licensees in China. These 3G CDMA licenses cover 3G CDMA + 4G/OFDMA multimode products,” a spokesperson told Mobile World Live in November.

“We also have more than 90 single-mode 4G/OFDMA licensees, including more than 55 licensees in China. OFDMA covers LTE FDD and TDD modes alike.”

Gus Richard of Piper Jaffray suggested the NDRC investigation throws doubt over its future Chinese revenue stream. “I don’t think China’s going to pay them,” he said.