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Huawei's Skepticism: Huawei has historically been critical of Open RAN initiatives, favoring their own proprietary solutions.

No Recent Signs of Engagement: In February 2024, Huawei dismissed rumors of supporting Open RAN.

Geopolitical Tensions: Some view O-RAN as a US-led effort against Huawei, creating a complex dynamic for collaboration.

However, there are some possibilities:

Change in Strategy: Huawei's stance could evolve, especially if Open RAN gains wider adoption.

Pressure from Market Forces: Operators seeking flexibility might nudge Huawei towards Open RAN compliance.

Overall, it's difficult to predict. Keep an eye on future announcements from Huawei or the O-RAN Alliance regarding:

Huawei joining the O-RAN Alliance

Development or testing of equipment based on O-RAN standards

Financial or resource commitments towards O-RAN initiatives

If any of these occur by October 1, 2025, the answer would be yes.

Microsoft's Denial: In June 2023, Microsoft refuted rumors about relocating the lab out of China [Microsoft responds to rumors of closing its Research Asia Institute]. They specifically stated their commitment to Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA)

Continued Operations: There haven't been any official announcements regarding closure. News sources in January 2024 reported Microsoft reaffirming their commitment [Microsoft responds to rumors of closing its Research Asia Institute].

However, there are some nuances:

Shifting Talent: There have been reports of Microsoft moving some researchers to their new AI lab in Canada [Microsoft to move top AI experts from China to lab in Canada]. This might indicate a strategic shift in focus.