ZTE Corp will continue to seek opportunities to bid for United States telecommunications contracts despite losing a recent deal with carrier Sprint Nextel, the Shenzhen-based firm said yesterday.

"The US government has a broadband agenda, and we want to make a contribution to this agenda," ZTE Chief Financial Officer Wei Zaisheng said yesterday during the Mobile World Congress held in Barcelona.

US President Barack Obama outlined plans early this month to extend wireless coverage to 98 percent of Americans over the next five years and the federal government intends to spend US$5 billion to support wireless expansion into rural areas, media reported.

But Chinese firms, including Huawei Technologies and ZTE, often face "national security" concerns when they are expanding in the US.

In October, US lawmakers asked the Federal Communications Commission to review the security risks of domestic companies such as Sprint using equipment from ZTE and Huawei. Sprint ultimately ordered gear from other suppliers.

Sprint was "very satisfied" with the ZTE contract, Wei said.