Interestingly, it became clear in 1988 that the Soviets had failed to develop the anticipated indigenous capability to manufacture advanced telephoneswitchingequipment.
The deal would transform the relatively primitive Soviet telephone network into one utilizing high technology fiber-optic cable and switchingequipment.
Huawei also earned headlines for its activities in Afghanistan where it helped the Taliban regime create a telephoneswitching system in Kabul that the Indian government identified as communications surveillance equipment.