Due to security concerns, Germany will ban the use of certain components manufactured by Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE for 5G networks, Reuters reports.
This announcement follows similar actions taken by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, which have already prohibited the said companies from supplying critical 5G network equipment.
Security Concerns Over China Tech Pushes Ban
The German government's decision is based on some concerns that the close ties between Huawei and ZTE and Beijing's security services could grant Chinese spies access to critical infrastructure.
A number of countries share this concern, as 5G networks will be used to connect everything from self-driving cars to critical infrastructure such as power grids and hospitals.
Local news outlets say that the German ban may include components already installed in networks, necessitating their removal and replacement by network operators.
This could have significant financial and logistical ramifications, as removing and replacing 5G components is time-consuming and costly.
Critics of Huawei and ZTE argue that their close ties to the Chinese government render it difficult to rely on them to protect the security of the networks they provide.
Huawei and ZTE have consistently denied these allegations, arguing that they are motivated by a protectionist desire to support non-Chinese competitors.
"Restrictions of an always reliable manufacturer with a very good security record are certainly not part of making infrastructures more secure," Bloomberg quotes Patrick Berger, a Huawei spokesman in Germany.
In 2021, Germany enacted an IT security law that imposed stringent requirements on telecommunications equipment manufacturers for next-generation networks. The South China Morning Post reports that the law did not prohibit Huawei and ZTE, as some other countries have done.
Why the Ban Is Critical for Germany
This information follows ZTE's announcement in early February that Germany's information security watchdog has certified its new 5G radio product (Telecoms.com)
Germany is even more reliant on Huawei for its 5G radio access network equipment than for its 4G network. This increases the implication of the German government's decision to ban Huawei components.
Global Crackdown on Chinese Tech
Only Britain and Sweden have thus far prohibited Huawei and ZTE from supplying critical 5G network equipment. Several other European nations are still trying to devise their telecom policies.
The end of 2027 deadline for telecom companies to remove all Huawei equipment from Britain's 5G networks remains unchanged.
Meanwhile, the US Federal Communications Commission banned Huawei and ZTE in Nov. 2022 due to data-security concerns and to limit the reach of Chinese telecommunications companies into the country's networks.
The ban on Huawei and ZTE components may significantly affect the global 5G market, as both companies are considered industry leaders.
Additionally, the ban is bound to heighten tensions between China and Western governments, as China has accused the United States and other countries of unfairly targeting its tech firms.
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