Huawei opens new Canadian headquarters

JANUARY 19, 2011 -- Huawei’s moves to increase its visibility in Canada continued with the opening of its Canadian Headquarters in Markham, Ontario. The new 46,000-square-foot facility includes sales and marketing capabilities as well as a test lab. The enhanced presence is designed to continue to bring Huawei’s products to the Canadian market, leverage local talent, and “capitalize on Canada’s rich history as a driving force in the telecommunications industry,” in the words of a Huawei announcement.

In addition to opening the new facility, Huawei also recently announced that it had signed separate agreements with Canadian carriers Bell and TELUS to create a pair of innovation centers. In April 2010, Huawei opened its first Canadian R&D center in Ottawa, Ontario. The R&D Center currently has more than 70 employees, and is concentrated on several strategic product initiatives in the wireline, wireless, optical, and IP networking sectors. Huawei also recently received a CAN $6.5 million grant from the Ontario government to invest in the Huawei Ottawa R&D center, and will invest CAN $67 million in R&D in Canada over the next five years.

“The establishment of our headquarters in Markham underscores our long-term investment in the Canadian market, and on a broader scale signifies Huawei’s continued growth in North America,” said Charles Ding, president of Huawei North America. “With this new facility, we will be able to expand our highly competitive offerings and support capabilities to our key customers in Canada.”

To date, Huawei has created more than 250 jobs in Canada, approximately 70 percent of which are based in Markham, Ontario. Over the next two years, Huawei is expected to add 280 new jobs in Canada, several hundred of which will continue to be located in the Markham area.

Huawei says it will continue to focus on strategic executive hires both in Canada and more widely across North America. Most recently, the company appointed Sean Yang to the position of President of Huawei Canada. Effective immediately, Yang will play a role in expanding Huawei’s sales/R&D/presence in the growing Canadian market.

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