Telecommunications equipment giant Huawei is increasingly facing difficulties in Europe, as Germany became the latest country to consider banning Chinese manufacturers from participating in 5G networks.
According to Reuters, the German Interior Ministry proposed measures to force German telecommunications operators to remove important components from Chinese suppliers from the network, including Huawei and ZTE corporation, before 2026.
Four years ago, Germany announced it would not eliminate Huawei despite pressure from the US. So if the new proposal is passed, it will create a big change in Germany. Previously, several other countries in Europe, including England, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, banned Huawei from participating in 5G networks.
In an interview with German television station ARD in early September, Huawei Germany Vice President of Corporate Communications Carsten Senz affirmed that German consumers have been using the company’s technology for many years without encountering problems. any security issues.
According to SCMP, Huawei opposes the politicization of cybersecurity assessments and warns that a ban will cause German telecommunications operators and consumers to bear higher costs.
The European Union (EU) also called on more member states to block Huawei from 5G networks. In 2020, Brussels recommended that member states ban or restrict Huawei in 5G telecommunications networks, but only a third of EU countries followed suit. Huawei has been involved in Europe’s 5G rollout early. In 2019, nearly 60% of the company’s 50 global 5G commercial contracts were signed with European network operators.
However, Europe faces increased pressure from the US after Washington placed Huawei on a trade blacklist in 2019 for national security reasons. This was followed by a series of moves including a ban on the use of Chinese 5G technology in the US, as well as trade restrictions that cut the company’s access to advanced chips. The US mobilized allies to join the boycott of China’s 5G technology, in which Five Eyes countries including Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand also banned Chinese companies from participating in 5G networks. According to the Financial Times, Portugal is also looking to ban some Chinese 5G devices and may change its policy.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said China opposes the politicization of economic, trade, science, and technology issues. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Berlin affirmed that China will not stand still if Germany issues a ban.