In The Wire China’s latest Company in the News feature, we examine Quectel’s global network.
Quectel is the global market leader in creating the connectivity modules behind ‘smart’ and internet-enabled devices, aka Internet of Things (IoT) modules, making them a crucial supplier embedded in ordinary household and industrial objects. Quectel dominates the market for IoT modules, holding a 40 percent market share according to market insight firm IoT Analytics and spanning more than 150 countries and regions. Yet Quectel’s global growth has been shadowed by scrutiny of its supposed ties to the Chinese government and military. Quectel was added to the Department of Defense’s 1260H List of Chinese military companies in January 2025, though the designation does not trigger sanctions. Quectel has denied any military links, and despite the scrutiny, it continues to grow. Quectel raised 2.2 billion RMB ($315.6 million) from a share issuance at the end of 2025 from selling new shares: It will put the money into building an R&D center at its new Shanghai headquarters, hiring over 500 engineers, and investing in automotive, 5G, and AI computing modules, according to Chinese media reports.
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Savannah Billman is a Staff Writer for The Wire China based in NYC. She previously worked at the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations.
