Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolution of the telecommunications equipment industry over the past two decades, highlighting the rise and fall of major companies and the impact of geopolitical factors on market dynamics [5][21]. Group 1: Historical Overview - In 2000, seven telecommunications equipment manufacturers made it to the Fortune Global 500, including Lucent and Nortel, which have since disappeared from the list [7][9]. - By 2005, Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE began to emerge as significant players, with Huawei's revenue reaching 45.3 billion RMB and ZTE's at 21.5 billion RMB [9][11]. - The 2010 list saw Huawei enter the rankings for the first time at position 397, with a revenue of 21.8 billion USD, while other traditional players struggled [14][21]. Group 2: Recent Developments - By 2020, Huawei had risen to the 49th position on the Fortune Global 500, with a revenue of 124.3 billion USD, marking a 166% increase in revenue over five years [21][22]. - The article notes that the global telecommunications market is fixed in size, leading to increased competition and pressure on other manufacturers as Huawei expanded [22][24]. - The U.S. government's actions against Huawei, including placing it on an entity list, significantly impacted its operations and market orders [22][23]. Group 3: Future Outlook - By 2025, only two telecommunications equipment manufacturers, Huawei and Cisco, are expected to remain on the Fortune Global 500 list, with Huawei at 83rd and Cisco at 273rd [26][27]. - The telecommunications industry is experiencing a cyclical downturn, with both Ericsson and Nokia facing declining revenues post-2022 due to reduced operator investments [29][31]. - The article emphasizes the need for companies to adapt to changing market conditions and the potential for new entrants to emerge in the telecommunications space [36][37].