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Munich – Chinese electronics giant Huawei is targeting almost doubling its smartphone market share in South Africa to 20% by year-end, says a company spokesperson.
Huawei’s current market share is between 10% and 13%, according to a local spokesperson who did not want to be named.
The company is expected to launch its latest phablet, the Mate 9, at an event in Munich, Germany on Thursday.
Global growth
Globally, Huawei has the world’s third largest smartphone shipments after Apple and Samsung, according to research by the International Data Corporation (IDC).
An IDC report released in August further said that Huawei’s global market share grew from 8.4% in Q1 of 2016 to 9.3% in Q2.
Apple’s market share was at 11.7% while Samsung stood at 22.8% for Q2.
Existing products such as the Y-series, G-series and the Mate series are expected to drive local market share growth. Huawei also plans to push its premium products such as the P-series of smartphones. It is expected that the new Mate 9 phablet will enter the South African market.
More service centres
The company also plans to roll out more customer service stores in the next year. The first two customer service centres were opened in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg and Canal Walk, in Cape Town in September. Services offered include training sessions, on-site device repairs, free device engraving and accessories for devices, among other things.
Previously, Huawei reported a 41%, year-on-year growth in revenue to $11.6bn in its half-year financial results. Smartphone shipments globally were at 60.56m, with a year-on-year increase of 25%.
The company is also gaining ground in emerging markets.
Previously, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, Richard Yu said: “We saw particularly fast growth in traditionally high end smartphone markets, such as Europe and emerging markets including North Africa, Central Asia and Latin America.”
*Fin24 has been invited by Huawei to attend a phone launch in Munich, Germany.
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