Bottom line: The US case against Huawei's CFO is likely to end with her release on technical grounds as part of a deal between the US and China, though the company could still face punishment for illegally selling US products to Iran.

Bottom line: ZTE will experience fallout from its run-in with Washington through much of next year, and could see an even longer-term hit to its global business as international customers start to look for alternate suppliers.

Bottom line: China Mobile's first-ever drop in 4G subscribers in April owes to the company's early arrival to the space, and reflects the broader market's maturation that is also adding similar pressures to Unicom and China Telecom.

Bottom line: A US investigation of Huawei into possible illegal sales of US-made equipment to Iran is old news, and may be getting dredged up now to give Washington leverage in its ongoing trade frictions with China.

Bottom line: Washington's new ban on ZTE from buying US-made components is not as political as China is portraying it, and is likely to be resolved within a few weeks after ZTE takes remedial actions related to its violation of an earlier agreement.

Bottom line: Huawei's strong revenue and profit growth for 2017 are coming largely on the back of its home China market, which should continue to boost the company as Beijing aggressively pushes upcoming 5G services.

Bottom line: Huawei's latest big financial commitment to the UK is mostly for show, but Britain could still emerge as a winner over the longer term if Huawei conducts more R&D work in its British labs.

Huawei gives $4.2 billion gift to UK

Bottom line: China Telecom, Unicom and China Broadcasting Network could share the costs of a 5G network to lower costs, while China Mobile is likely to construct a network on its own.

China telcos consider 5G network sharing

Bottom line: ZTE's settlement with the US over illegal sales to Iran will help the company focus on the future, as it advances with plans to move away from low-margin businesses and find more promising new growth areas.

ZTE settles US accusations of illegal sales to Iran

Bottom line: Huawei's revenue growth for 2017 is likely to drop by more than half from 2016's rate of 32 percent as it cuts its money-losing businesses, with the biggest slowdown likely to come in its smartphone unit.

Huawei to focus on profitability in 2017

Quality over quantity is a growing theme in China these days, as the nation puts aside its previous pursuit of high growth at any cost in exchange for more sustainable expansion in high-quality areas. After starting ...

Bottom line: China Telecom's sale of several key entertainment assets to a separately run and listed unit reflects the company's more dynamic nature compared with its 2 peers, as it tries to create services that can compete with private-sector rivals.

China Telecom spins off entertainment services

China Telecom (HKEx: 728; NYSE: CHA) is showing once more why it's a telco to watch, with word that it's formally spinning off 4 of the main entertainment businesses on its mai...

Bottom line: Unicom is likely to choose all 3 of the BAT companies as equity and strategic partners under Beijing's pilot program to invigorate big state-run companies, but none of the tie-ups will produce meaningful results.  

Unicom eyes BAT partnerships

China Unicom (HKEx: 762; NYSE: CHU), the perennial laggard among China's 3 major telcos, is reportedly looking for new life by tying up with the nation's big 3 Internet companies, Tencent (HKEx: 700), Alibaba (NYSE: BA...