The agreement means Huawei will assume the front of shirt position on the Wellington Phoenix playing strip.

With things progressing well on the field under head coach Ernie Merrick, Phoenix General Manager David Dome welcomed the long-term commitment of Huawei to the club off the field.

It is the largest partnership in the club’s seven-year history and Dome said the agreement has benefits for both parties.

“I am delighted that Huawei see the alignment between themselves building a great brand in New Zealand and the Phoenix building a great club,” Dome said.

“It is fantastic that the strategic direction the club is taking has been bought into with a huge show of confidence by one of the world’s top technology companies.

“It is great that Huawei want to invest in the future of football in New Zealand by supporting the Wellington Phoenix.”

Huawei is the world’s largest telecoms equipment supplier, which partners 45 of the world’s top 50 operators and helps to connect around one-third of the world’s population. It is also the third largest smartphone brand in the world, designing and building a wide range of smartphones, tablets and other consumer devices. 

In New Zealand Huawei works with all major telecommunications operators and is a key contributor to the Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative projects.

“Huawei is a very well known brand in many markets, but is relatively new Down Under,” said Huawei Corporate Affairs Manager Andrew Bowater.

“We are hugely excited about working with the Wellington Phoenix to support them in their goals, and to help us introduce Huawei to football fans (and as many others as possible) here in New Zealand.”

Dome said it was fantastic that Huawei had committed itself long-term to the Phoenix and wanted to see football grow and develop in New Zealand.