TD Tech
2024
Why
Provider of industry-customized terminals, IoT, and industry wireless products.
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Telecommunications equipmentFounded 1987- HQ today: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026
Acquisitions
Huawei Acquisitions
4
Major Deals Covered
What are Huawei's biggest acquisitions?
This page covers 4 major deals from 2012 to 2024, each with its price where disclosed and the reason behind it.
- Major deals covered
- 4
- First deal
- 2012
- Most recent
- 2024
| Company | Year | Price | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huawei Symantec (Joint Venture Buyout) | 2012 | Undisclosed | Huawei made the strategic decision to acquire Symantec's 49 percent stake in their established joint venture for approximately $530 million. This move was intended to achieve complete operational control over the entity's network security and storage solutions, allowing Huawei to integrate these critical enterprise technologies directly into its rapidly expanding global telecommunications portfolio. |
| Neul | 2014 | Undisclosed | In a targeted effort to dominate the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) landscape, Huawei acquired the UK-based startup Neul for approximately $25 million. Neul specialized in developing low-power, wide-area network technologies designed specifically for machine-to-machine communication. |
| TD Tech | 2024 | Undisclosed | Provider of industry-customized terminals, IoT, and industry wireless products. |
| HexaTier | 2016 | Undisclosed | Database security and compliance. |
- What companies has Huawei bought?
- Major acquisitions by Huawei documented here include TD Tech (2024), HexaTier (2016), Neul (2014) and Huawei Symantec (Joint Venture Buyout) (2012).
- What is Huawei's most recent acquisition?
- The most recent Huawei acquisition documented here is TD Tech, in 2024.
HexaTier
2016
Why
Database security and compliance.
Neul
2014
Why
In a targeted effort to dominate the emerging Internet of Things (IoT) landscape, Huawei acquired the UK-based startup Neul for approximately $25 million. Neul specialized in developing low-power, wide-area network technologies designed specifically for machine-to-machine communication.
Impact
By acquiring Neul, Huawei positioned itself at the forefront of the global IoT revolution, securing crucial foundational technology required to connect billions of smart devices across cellular networks worldwide.
Outcome
The acquisition allowed Huawei to integrate Neul's specialized IoT expertise directly into its global research and development framework, accelerating the deployment of advanced smart city infrastructure and industrial automation networks.
Huawei Symantec (Joint Venture Buyout)
2012
Why
Huawei made the strategic decision to acquire Symantec's 49 percent stake in their established joint venture for approximately $530 million. This move was intended to achieve complete operational control over the entity's network security and storage solutions, allowing Huawei to integrate these critical enterprise technologies directly into its rapidly expanding global telecommunications portfolio.
Impact
This acquisition marked a significant turning point in Huawei's enterprise strategy, firmly establishing the company as a strong, self-sufficient provider of enterprise storage and cybersecurity hardware independent of Western partnerships.
Outcome
The successful buyout provided Huawei with uninhibited access to advanced security architecture, bolstering its enterprise division and enabling the company to offer comprehensive, end-to-end IT infrastructure solutions to corporate clients worldwide.
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.'s Growth & Acquisition Strategy
Huawei's growth strategy has three parts: build domestic replacements for restricted technology (Kirin and Ascend chips, HarmonyOS, openEuler, and in-house HBM for AI accelerators), expand newer businesses such as intelligent automotive solutions and Digital Power, and keep selling ICT infrastructure in China, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia, where it is not excluded from 5G networks.
How Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. Makes Money
Huawei makes money by selling network equipment, devices, and digital infrastructure, plus software, services, and patent licences. In 2025 its ICT infrastructure business, which sells 5G radio, core network, optical, data-communication, and enterprise products to carriers, governments, and companies, earned ~$52.1 billion (CNY 375 billion). The consumer business (smartphones, PCs, tablets, wearables, and HarmonyOS services) earned ~$47.9 billion (CNY 344.5 billion). Smaller but faster-moving units include intelligent automotive solutions (~$6.26 billion (CNY 45 billion), +72.1%), Huawei Cloud (~$4.48 billion (CNY 32.2 billion) external revenue, -3.5%), and Digital Power (solar inverters, energy storage, EV charging, data-center power). Because Huawei is not listed, profits are reinvested in R&D or paid as dividends to employee shareholders rather than distributed to outside investors.
Huawei Acquisitions FAQ
What is Huawei's historical approach to mergers and acquisitions compared to in-house R&D?
Huawei has historically preferred organic in-house R&D and strategic joint ventures over large corporate acquisitions, investing heavily in internal engineering teams while executing select, targeted technology bolt-ons.
What was the significance of Huawei's acquisition of UK photonics firm CIP Technologies?
In 2012, Huawei acquired CIP Technologies (Centre for Integrated Photonics) in the United Kingdom, establishing a European optical research center that enhanced Huawei's leadership in high-speed fiber-optic transmission networks.
How did Huawei acquire Neul and advance its Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) capabilities?
In 2014, Huawei acquired Cambridge-based IoT pioneer Neul for $25 million, integrating Neul's low-power wide-area network technology to lead global standardization for cellular Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) chips.
Why and how did Huawei spin off its Honor smartphone brand in 2020?
In November 2020, to shield the budget brand from US sanctions and allow it access to Qualcomm chips and Google services, Huawei sold 100% of its Honor smartphone business to a consortium of over 30 Chinese tech dealers and state-backed investors (Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology).
What was Huawei's joint venture and eventual transaction with Symantec?
In 2008, Huawei formed Huawei Symantec, a joint venture specializing in network storage and cybersecurity solutions. In 2012, Huawei acquired Symantec's 49% stake for $530 million to take full ownership of its enterprise security appliance business.
What strategic investments does Huawei make through its Hubble Technology Venture fund?
Through its investment arm Hubble Technology Investment (founded in 2019), Huawei has acquired equity stakes in dozens of domestic semiconductor startups specializing in lithography components, EDA software, RF filters, and advanced packaging.
How did Huawei's early joint venture with 3Com (H3C) evolve?
In 2003, Huawei and 3Com formed Huawei-3Com (H3C) to manufacture enterprise data networking routers. In 2006, Huawei sold its 49% stake to 3Com for $882 million, providing significant cash to fuel overseas wireless network expansion.
What is Huawei's M&A policy regarding international assets under current geopolitical conditions?
Under current geopolitical constraints, Huawei focuses international capital on establishing collaborative research laboratories with universities across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, while channeling domestic investments into semiconductor self-reliance.
Does Huawei buy other companies?
Unlike Western tech giants, Huawei rarely executes massive M&A. Their entire survival strategy is massive internal R&D. When the US government placed Huawei on the "Entity List," cutting them off from Google Android and TSMC chips, Huawei didn't buy a solution; they aggressively built their own entirely indigenous ecosystem, including HarmonyOS and advanced Kirin processors via SMIC.
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