[1/2]General view of the German headquarters of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies in Dusseldorf, Germany February 18, 2019. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File photo acquire license rights
BERLIN, Sept 19 (Reuters) – Germany’s Interior Ministry plans to force telecoms operators to reduce the use of equipment from Huawei (HWT.UL) and ZTE in their 5G networks after a study found highlighted an excessive dependence on these Chinese suppliers. a government official said.
The ministry has designed a phased approach to avoid too much disruption as operators remove all critical components from Chinese suppliers from their 5G core networks by 2026, the official said.
Operators, such as Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) and Vodafone (VOD.L), are also expected to reduce the share of Chinese components in their RAN and transport networks by October 1, 2026, to a maximum of 25%, a declared the manager. , who declined to be named.
Huawei currently accounts for 59% of Germany’s 5G RAN networks, according to a survey by telecommunications consultancy Strand Consult.
In particularly sensitive regions like the capital Berlin, seat of the federal government, Chinese technology should not be used at all, the official said.
The Interior Ministry wants to present its approach to the cabinet starting next week, but could face resistance from the Digital Ministry, fearing it could affect Germany’s already slow progress on digitalization.
Germany is seen as a laggard in implementing the European Union’s toolbox of security measures for 5G networks. The measures were agreed three years ago to limit the use of suppliers the bloc considers “high risk” – including Huawei and ZTE – due to concerns about possible sabotage or espionage. Both companies deny that their equipment poses a security risk.
Last week, the government said in response to a parliamentary inquiry that it had so far not banned the use of new Chinese critical components in 5G networks since an IT security law allowing it to do so came into force in May 2021.
“It is incomprehensible that (Interior Minister Nancy) Faeser allows Huawei components to still be used in our mobile networks,” said Reinhard Brandl, digital policy spokesman for the conservative opposition parliamentary group.
The Interior Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Germany’s use of Huawei in particular has come under public scrutiny over the past two years due to the government’s tougher stance on China and its desire to reduce its dependence on certain countries in light of the energy crisis caused by Germany’s dependence on Russian gas.
The Interior Ministry has reached the conclusion that it is “urgent” to act to avoid a second Nord Stream, the official said, referring to pipelines intended to carry cheap Russian gas to Germany but which are no longer used.
Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Sarah Marsh Editing by Sabine Wollrab and Mark Potter
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