Germany is planning to ban components made by Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE from parts of its 5G Network. The move is a part of the German government’s plan to revive and reshuffle its telecommunication network to address national security concerns.
A spokesperson for German Interior Ministry said that the government was carrying out a general review of telecom’s tech suppliers and preparing a draft list of potential threats. However, he said that the ministry was not targeting any specific manufacturers or companies.
The ban if levied will stop telecommunication operators across Germany from using components from specific Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE in their 5G network.
The potential ban will create an additional burden for telecom operators as they may have to remove and replace parts already built into the network without any compensation from the government.
The US-China tech war has intensified over the years with many allies like Japan, Netherlands, and South Korea joining the US to curb the technological advancement of China. The Biden administration is nervous about the technological advancement of China, especially in the field of Artificial Intelligence and futuristic tech, and is slapping sanctions on technology export to China in order to slow down its progress.
Recently the European Commission also joined this group by banning its employees from using the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok on their work-related devices, citing cybersecurity concerns. Though the European Union has not explicitly banned Huawei or other 5G equipment vendors, the UK has banned Huawei from making new contracts in the country.
Now Germany plans to join this group to ban Chinese companies. Noah Barkin, MD of Rhodium Group’s China practice said that the plan to ban Chinese firms is a sign that the German government may finally be taking China-related risks to national security seriously.
According to Reuters, an interior ministry paper stated that a specific supplier could be banned from providing critical components if it were deemed to be directly or indirectly controlled by the government of another state.
Huawei, ZTE, and the Chinese government have repeatedly rejected the claims of espionage and national security threats. The Chinese government has said that ongoing sanctions are motivated by a protectionist desire to support non-Chinese rivals and hinder China’s technological advancement.
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(via)
