Huawei (CN) I Cost of Speed I 2/5

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Huawei didn’t just build networks. It built the backbone of China’s rise.

From a scrappy startup in 1980s Shenzhen to a global tech titan, Huawei’s climb has rattled the West, redrawn alliances, and redefined what a Chinese company can do.

At the center is Ren Zhengfei. Ex-soldier, engineer, and survivor.

He never planned to take on the world. But the world came for him anyway.

Through sanctions, surveillance and accusations of espionage, Huawei always bounced back stronger.

This is the story of Huawei — how one man’s obsession with technology turned into a battle over power, politics, and the future of global tech.

Episode 1: Master Switch

Shenzhen, 1987. Ren Zhengfei starts Huawei with limited cash, no tech of his own, and everything to prove. To survive, he builds not just a product — but a system. A culture of hunger, obsession, and unrelenting speed.

Episode 2: Cost of Speed

When the People’s Liberation Army comes calling, Huawei gets its first big break. But with military contracts come new scrutiny, and Ren learns that loyalty has a price.

Episode 3: Eyes of the State

Huawei’s surveillance tech becomes essential at home — powering cities, borders, and entire regions. But abroad, it triggers alarm. As the company expands globally, critics warn it’s not just watching — it’s watching for China.

Episode 4: Honour and Glory

Huawei’s mobile division takes aim at the global market — but the launch is rocky. Delays, bugs, and fierce competition threaten to sink it. Still, Ren doubles down, betting everything on the dream of a Chinese-made smartphone empire.

Episode 5: Final Connection

Cut off, cornered, and branded a threat to national security, Huawei doesn’t fold. It doubles down. Rewriting software, rebuilding chips, the world can no longer ignore them.

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