China's Huawei is reported to be making a determined push to enter the US wireless infrastructure market, with a bid to supply kit to Sprint Nextel. Citing people close to the matter, the Financial Times added that winning the contract would require at least an informal nod from the US government.

Huawei has been attempting to tap into the lucrative US market for some years, but has been held back by - often denied - claims of close links to the Chinese military. It is known to have come close to winning contracts from both AT&T and Verizon Wireless, although it is thought that the risk factor of the US government blocking the deal was too high for the mobile networks to tollerate. The company was also forced to abandon plans to take a minority stake in USA based 3Com after US politicians kicked up a fuss about national security concerns.

The Financial Times noted that the company may have to consider dramatic concessions to prove it is transparent, including a listing on a US or Hong Kong stock exchange, shaking up its management or creating a US company that is independent of Chinese control.

In order to boost its credentials with government officials, earlier this year the company was reported to have recruited John Bellinger, a senior official from the former President Bush administration as an advisor to the company.