NEC Pulls the Plug on 4G/5G Base Stations as Japan's Hardware Dominance Fades
NEC is ending 4G and 5G base station development to focus on software and defense. This strategic shift comes as market share shrinks amid competition from China and Europe.
The hardware crown is slipping. NEC has decided to halt the development of wireless base stations for 4G and 5G standards, marking a significant retreat from a market dominated by Chinese and European giants. According to Nikkei, the Japanese firm is pivoting its focus toward software and defense-related equipment.
Squeezed by China and Europe
NEC’s withdrawal highlights the intense pressure in the global infrastructure market. Companies like Huawei, Ericsson, and Nokia have left little room for competitors who lack massive scale. NEC's market share has steadily shrunk, making the R&D costs for next-generation hardware increasingly difficult to justify.
The New Frontier: Software and Defense
Instead of fighting for thin margins in base stations, NEC is doubling down on software and specialized defense technologies. This shift aligns with the growing geopolitical emphasis on secure communication networks and the US-Japan cooperation on 6G and AI to counter China's dominance.
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