Huawei tightlipped on Athlone jobs

Chinese technology firm Huawei has refused to confirm whether any of its current Irish workforce of approximately 50 workers is based in Athlone. National reports recently suggested the company has a workforce in Athlone as well as Dublin and Cork, and that a further 150 jobs are expected to be created by the company within the next two years. Managing Director of Huawei Ireland Frank Bai told the Westmeath Independent however there are no definite plans in place to create 150 additional jobs at the company, and that any expansion in the future will depend on future business development and contracts won. Though questioned, he refrained from disclosing whether or not any company workers are currently based in Athlone or would be in the future should the company expand. Huawei has had a presence in Ireland since 2008. The company employs approximately 110,000 workers across the globe. In Ireland the company supplies communications equipment. It's thought plans are in place to launch an own-brand smartphone on the market in the future however.