According to a report by Daily NK, North Korea has initiated the import of second-hand Huawei equipment in a bid to upgrade its existing mobile networks. The upgrade focuses on enhancing 3G base transceiver stations (BTS) in major cities such as Pyongyang, Nampo, Pyongsong, Sariwon, Wonsan, and Hamhung.

The country, to this day, hasn’t established a 4G network, but the recent upgrade to the 3G network is perceived as a step toward supporting future 4G development. Daily NK indicates that North Korea is opting for the purchase of affordable second-hand Huawei devices for this modernization.

This technological advancement was delayed due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an unnamed source. The source noted that the country’s telecom infrastructure improvement is a collaborative effort between regional trade agencies and the communication sector.

The source, speaking under anonymity due to security concerns, revealed that technicians have been deployed to the base transceiver stations to facilitate equipment replacement, offer technological support, and implement operational management systems.

North Korea, led by Kim Jong Un under a totalitarian regime, maintains significant control over the media accessible to its citizens. Presently, the country operates two active mobile network operators: Koryolink, established in 2008 as a joint venture between Egyptian company Orascom Investment Holding and state-owned Korean Post & Telecoms Corporation, and Kang Song NET, formed more recently in 2015.

Despite the implied relationship between China and North Korea, indicated by a mutual defense treaty, experts stress that there is considerable friction between them largely due to North Korea’s nuclear weapon thrust.