60% of Germany's 5G network is Huawei, says Chinese embassy

Would be a shame if anything happened to it

Huawei accounts for nearly 60 percent of Germany's 5G network equipment, according to a spokesperson from the Chinese embassy.

The official was responding to reports that Germany intends to ban Chinese technology, including Huawei and ZTE components, in the construction of the nation's 5G infrastructure.

"For a long time, Huawei has operated in compliance with laws and regulations, and its technology complies with safety standards," the embassy spokesperson said this week.

In the statement, they called the endeavor to remove the products an "abuse of state power to interfere in the market" and alleged that such action would delay construction of Germany's 5G network while also raising costs. They also said concerns that Huawei equipment is a threat to national security are an "attempt to smear Huawei with trumped-up charges."

The German government is in the process of reviewing telecoms suppliers. An interior ministry paper on the process said "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." In other words, China.

A German interior ministry spokesperson reportedly said the review could lead to a rip-and-replace order, potentially without financial compensation.

In December 2020, US telcos and similar outfits were ordered to ditch ZTE and Huawei gear on grounds of national security in order to utilize the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Universal Service Fund. As most rely on the subsidy, compliance was high.

The FCC revealed in February last year that carriers applied for $5.6 billion in funding to rip and replace China-made communications kit. The FCC had originally set aside $1.9 billion.

Germany was previously resistant to make similar moves as the head of the Federal Office for Information Security called the risks from Chinese kit "manageable."

As more countries, including the UK, have fallen in line with the idea that the kit might be dangerous and ordered its replacement, Germany seems to have (eventually) come round. ®