Chinese telecoms equipment and infrastructure company ZTE reported healthy increases in revenue and profit for the first quarter of the year, with increased sales of 3G handsets and optical and data communication products playing a major role.

The company saw relatively fast growth in operating revenue internationally due to sustained growth in the global telecommunications market and through working with large global operators. It also focused on increased penetration in the broadband market in its home country with greater deployment of mobile internet.

The company grew its operating revenue by 24 percent year-on-year to hit CNY18.6 billion (US$2.95 billion), which contributed to a 18.5 percent rise in net profit to CNY150.9 million.

Operator network revenue increased by 9 percent during the first quarter, while device revenue was up 22 percent, driven largely by 3G handset sales. There was also a large rise in sales of services and fixed terminals during the period.

ZTE's source of revenue was impacted by operators focusing on investment in construction and optimisation of mobile broadband and fixed broadband during the period, driven by more in-depth deployments of 3G networks and the first commercial deployments of 4G networks.

The Chinese vendor said it plans to continue to focus on competitively-priced smartphones as well as mid-to-high end devices in the US, Japan and Europe. The company also aims to maintain the growth of its telecommunications services and government technology.

“The company sees these areas, together with its network solutions and terminal products, as important for growth moving forward,” ZTE said in a statement.