Exit Ericsson which holds 100 of its subsidiary and NSN

Tempers among the European manufacturers of telecommunications. Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent were enough to see the Chinese win contracts, while themselves are struggling to cross the borders of the Middle Kingdom. ZTE is still little threatening, but Huawei, after to be installed in the fixed networks, leading the attack in the mobile. End of 2009, he was selected by SFR and Bouygues Telecom to expand their 3 G coverage, and Telenor and Tele2 in Sweden, in 4 G. In a market that has decreased by 10 last year, the aggressiveness of the Chinese led the division by two of the price of mobile base stations, deplored an OEM.

In November, a drop of water was straw. A new Chinese protectionist regulation, unveiled in November, creates a telecommunications and computer products catalog that the administration is authorized to buy. Only there are accepted equipment whose trademarks and patents have been filed originally in China and are owned by a Chinese entity. Exit Ericsson, which holds 100 of its subsidiary, and NSN. Can Alcatel Shanghai Bell, the joint venture of Alcatel-Lucent to 50 Chinese, sell its products Perhaps, but the implications in terms of technology transfer are heavy. "It should be that we can play with the same rules for everyone," said Rajeev Suri, the pattern of NSN yesterday. He does not intend to complain, but supports the petition sent earlier this year by the European Federation of metalworkers and the telephone equipment suppliers European works councils: "The European Commission should support the existence of a R & D European." "We would not have to restructure Europe to create centres of R & D"low cost"elsewhere", he warned. In reality, the three Western suppliers defend half-heartedly. In Alcatel-Lucent, for example, the Director General, Ben Verwaayen, does not want to hear from the Chinese and prefers to talk about "positive" topics Joint actions have been slow to come, says an OEM, because "one and the others wonder which of the three will be eaten first.

Fire at home

There is fire in the House. In their petition, the unionists put his finger on the issues that get angry. Last year, Alcatel-Lucent deleted 3,000 jobs in Europe; Ericsson 950; NSN from 5,000 to 6,000 in the world. Although Huawei has not yet managed to enter the United States (its buyout of 3Com had was blocked at the highest level), they feel the need Continent: "Europe is the only market Telecom open in the world." ... More the Chinese Government maintains its national champions by the implementation of technical standards and the purchasing power of the operators controlled by the State. "They ask therefore that the 18 million euros allocated late 2009 R & d in the mobile broadband go priority to companies that recruit in Europe. They claim European standards on broadband wireless, mobile TV or Web 2.0 technologies, and a goal to cover EU 100 high-throughput. Brussels must establish rules to "correct the skewed market conditions when international laws do not apply", for example the right to work. In a Europe which is not a fortress, only "virtue" social and ecological can serve as a bulwark to industrialists.