China’s ZTE has joined rival Huawei in predicting bullish growth plans this year, despite the global economic downturn and a contracting telecoms equipment market. “We expect a strong growth in 2009 – double-digit [group revenue] growth,” Lin Cheng, president of ZTE’s western Europe operations, told the Financial Times (FT). Cheng said that although 2009 group revenue growth would be lower than 2008 – a year in which it reported revenue of CNY44.3 billion (US$6.5 billion), a 27 percent increase on 2007 growth – this year’s growth would remain strong. Such health would reportedly be driven from success in China’s 3G infrastructure contract awards, as well as the recent US$15 billion credit line ZTE has finalised with China Development Bank, a deal that could allow ZTE to offer vendor financing to operators.

The FT notes that fixed and mobile network infrastructure sales accounted for 65 percent of ZTE’s total revenue in 2008, whilst handset sales contributed 22 percent of revenue. The company’s international sales overtook those of its domestic revenue in 2007, although analyst firm Gartner believes the vendor has been less aggressive in its overseas push than rival Huawei. Earlier this month Huawei told the FT that the company is confident of growing its mobile market share this year and is targeting deals worth US$30 billion in 2009, up from US$23 billion worth of signed contracts in 2008.