TASS quotes the so-called Minister of Digital Development of the Zaporizhzhia region, appointed by the occupation authorities, Grigory Prokhatilov. According to him, in 2024, 989 new mobile communication base stations were installed in the occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region, bringing the total to 2,969 units.
"In addition to building new stations, we are also modernizing the existing ones. Previously, base stations equipped with ZTE equipment operated in the Zaporizhzhia region. Now, all are transitioning to new modern equipment, including that from Chinese brands, which allows for better network control, remote problem identification, and in some cases, automatic network reconfiguration without the need to visit the site," Prokhatilov stated.
This information indicates that the ZTE base stations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine were not shut down at the onset of the Russian occupation, as emphasized by "Facts." The continued operation of these stations requires regular licensing for mobile operators, which, according to journalists, is directly handled by the manufacturer.
"Facts" noted that ZTE is a Chinese company engaged in the production of telecommunications equipment and mobile phones. It is 51.8% owned by the People's Republic of China. 31.5% of the company's shares are traded on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and 16.7% on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.