EU countries back tough line on 5G suppliers
Include vetting domestic legal framework, potentially dealing a blow to Huawei
PHOTO: REUTERS
BRUSSELS:
EU countries on Friday endorsed a tough line for selecting 5G suppliers, including vetting the domestic legal framework to which they are subjected, potentially dealing a blow to telecoms equipment market leader Huawei Technologies.
Ambassadors meeting in Brussels agreed to the approach, a spokeswoman for Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said in a tweet. EU countries should consider non-technical factors such as the legal and policy framework to which suppliers may be subject in third countries, a draft document seen by Reuters ahead of the meeting said.
The document did not mention any specific countries or companies. EU governments should also diversify their suppliers and not depend on one, the document said. EU ministers will give the green light to the approach at a meeting next month. The United States has urged the EU to ban Huawei equipment, saying that its gear could be used by China for spying.
The Shenzen-based company, which competes with Finland’s Nokia and Sweden’s Ericsson has denied the US charges and dismissed the concerns as groundless.
Last month, the EU warned of the risk of increased cyberattacks by state-backed entities but did not name any company or country. The bloc sees 5G networks as key to boosting economic growth.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2019.
EU countries on Friday endorsed a tough line for selecting 5G suppliers, including vetting the domestic legal framework to which they are subjected, potentially dealing a blow to telecoms equipment market leader Huawei Technologies.
Ambassadors meeting in Brussels agreed to the approach, a spokeswoman for Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said in a tweet. EU countries should consider non-technical factors such as the legal and policy framework to which suppliers may be subject in third countries, a draft document seen by Reuters ahead of the meeting said.
The document did not mention any specific countries or companies. EU governments should also diversify their suppliers and not depend on one, the document said. EU ministers will give the green light to the approach at a meeting next month. The United States has urged the EU to ban Huawei equipment, saying that its gear could be used by China for spying.
The Shenzen-based company, which competes with Finland’s Nokia and Sweden’s Ericsson has denied the US charges and dismissed the concerns as groundless.
Last month, the EU warned of the risk of increased cyberattacks by state-backed entities but did not name any company or country. The bloc sees 5G networks as key to boosting economic growth.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2019.