5G expansion: Berlin plans Huawei ban

Hamburg, Berlin, Brussels The federal government plans to significantly restrict the use of Chinese technology in German mobile networks. The Handelsblatt learned this from government circles. Berlin’s efforts are likely to have serious consequences – for the relationship with Beijing, but also for the plans of the German network operators to expand the 5G mobile communications standard.

Accordingly, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica must also be prepared to subsequently remove installed components from the Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE from systems that are part of the critical infrastructure. The companies would have to bear the allegedly considerable costs themselves, said a top official.

For years, the Berlin ministries have been discussing the participation of Chinese technology companies in 5G mobile networks and weighing warnings from the secret services against economic interests. The federal government now seems to have knowledge that “security-relevant” components from Huawei and ZTE are installed on a large scale in German networks. It’s about technology “that could enable a state to exercise political power,” the official said.