The joint-venture’s storage and security appliance products will also target phone companies and service providers.
“The joint venture will help carriers and enterprises effectively address these challenges by offering security and storage appliances that are easy to implement and maximize value to customers,” the companies said.
The yet-unnamed joint-venture is subject to government approvals, though Huawei and Symantec hope it will be operational by the end of the year.
The joint-venture will be headquartered in the Chinese city of Chengdu. It will be 51 per cent owned by Huawei and 49 per cent by Symantec.
“Network security will definitely form the foundation as telecom networks migrate toward an All IP environment,” Huawei chief executive officer Ren ZhengFei
“The partnership will enable us not only to provide leading network security solutions to carriers, but also to deliver professional security and storage solutions to enterprises, helping our customers build a safer and more efficient network.”
Huawei will contribute its telecommunications storage and security businesses including its integrated supply chain and integrated product development management practices.
Additionally, the new company will have access to Huawei’s intellectual property (IP) licenses, research and development capabilities, manufacturing expertise and engineering talent, which includes more than 750 employees.
The joint venture’s services and support infrastructure will draw upon Huawei's successful model for customer service and technical support, including worldwide technical support and call centre operations.
Symantec will contribute some of its leading enterprise storage and security software licenses, working capital, and its management expertise into the new company. Symantec will also contribute US$150 million toward the joint venture’s growth and expansion.
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