But the trade tensions risk affecting the tendering process to build China's 4G networks, said Matt Walker, an analyst with research firm Ovum. The nation's upcoming rollout of 4G commercial services is expected to generate billions in sales for telecommunication equipment vendors. For example, China Mobile, with over 700 million customers, is budgeted to spend 41.8 billion yuan (US$6.7 billion) this year building the infrastructure. But all three of China's mobile operators are state-owned enterprises, Walker noted, and subject to the government's influence. "The Chinese carriers don't want to be constrained in who they choose, but they're still state-controlled through share holdings, so they are stuck in the political process," he said.

Matt Walker Matt Walker

Matt Walker Principal Analyst Matt Walker

Matt Walker: Senior Analyst Based in Thailand, Matt Walker is a senior analyst for Ovum RHK for the Network Infrastructure practice, specializing in Asia-Pacific telecoms markets. Prior to initiating RHK's Asian optical research in 2000, Matt provided analysis for a number of RHK's services, with a particular focus on emerging carriers and service provider capital spending. Matt's recent projects have addressed carrier Ethernet in Asia-Pacific, metro optical deployment trends, vendors' competitive strategies in emerging markets, business opportunities for unused radio spectrum and Asian carriers' plans for IP multimedia subsystems (IMS). Before joining Ovum RHK, Matt worked as an economist for Exeter Associates, a consultancy specializing in regulated industries. Matt received his M.S. in Applied Economics/Public Policy Analysis and B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester in 1995 and 1994, respectively.

Matt Walker, Principal Analyst, Network Infrastructure | read more Carrier Ethernet APAC - Matt Walker, Principal Analyst, Network Infrastructure Matt Walker, Principal Analyst, Network Infrastructure Matt is a principal analyst in Ovums Network Infrastructure practice. Based in Asia, Matts networks coverage includes packet-optical convergence, mobile backhaul, global network connectivity, and next-generation access. Beyond networks, Matt is also in charge of preparing Ovums forecast of global service provider revenues and capex, for both fixed and mobile operators. He covers telecom industry health by tracking financial deal activity such as M&As, public offerings, and venture capital flows. Matt also prepares Ovums quarterly review of vendors financial results and strategic directions, across wireline, wireless and professional services. Matt joined Ovum in 2006 and from 1998-2005 was part of RHK, a research firm acquired by Ovum in 2005. Matt has published extensively on the optical networks sector, telco capex, Asian vendors, and FTTx. Project work for vendors has included market entry strategy, custom forecast, competitor analysis, and technology assessments. For carriers, recent projects have covered vendor selection and network strategy. Matt has also spoken at client seminars for internal sales training and external customer briefings. Matt is a frequent speaker at industry events sponsored by IIR, Netevents, Beacon, and other organizers primarily in Asia. Before joining RHK in 1998, Matt worked as an economist for Exeter Associates, where his focus was telecom network cost modeling and electricity demand forecasting. Before that he spent two years at Rochester Gas & Electric, where he advised senior management on pricing issues and designed a new gas-pricing methodology. Matt received a BA in political science in 1995 and an MS in applied economics in 1995 from the University of Rochester.