The company's head office is in Shenzhen, China. Hytera's products are developed at three development sites in total.[1] One of the development sites is located in Bad Münder, Germany. In March 2012 Hytera acquired the German company Rohde & Schwarz Professional Mobile Radio GmbH from the German electronics group Rohde & Schwarz, which is now known as Hytera Mobilfunk. In addition, there are Hytera subsidiaries in the US, UK, Canada, and Spain.
United States
In June 2007, Hytera acquired Marketronics Corporation, now known as Hytera America, Inc., located in Miramar, Florida. In 2019, Hytera and several other Chinese-based companies, including Huawei, were placed on a ban list of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)[5] to not do any business with U.S. federal agencies due to national security and human rights concerns.[6][7][8]
On May 27, 2020, Hytera America and Hytera America (West) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy citing ongoing lawsuits brought by Motorola Solutions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]
On January 12, 2021, Hytera US Inc., a new subsidiary of Hytera's in the U.S., set up following the court procedures, officially began to operate its business.[10]
Federal ban
In March 2021, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) declared that Hytera video surveillance and telecommunications services and equipment "pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security.”[11] After President Joe Biden signed into law the Secure Equipment Act of 2021, in November 2022, the FCC banned sales or import of equipment made by Hytera for national security reasons.[12]
Litigation with Motorola
The company is the defendant, as well as the plaintiff, in ongoing intellectual property litigation with Motorola Solutions.[13][14][15] Hytera is also a plaintiff of an antitrust lawsuit against Motorola Solutions.[10] In February 2022, Hytera was criminally indicted in United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois under charges of technology theft.[16][17] In April 2024, the court ordered the company to immediately stop selling products worldwide.[18] An appellate court granted Hytera a stay.[19]
Germany
The German company BICK Mobilfunk GmbH was founded as an engineering firm in 1980 and was absorbed by Rohde & Schwarz as early as in 1988.[20] The company put into service the first TETRA system in Germany.[21] The enterprise primarily deals with the development and implementation of trunked radio systems according to the TETRA standard. In 2011 TETRA division was sold to Hytera Communications Co. Ltd.[20]