Germany Makes a U-Turn: Huawei and ZTE to Be Removed from National Networks
The German government has decided to eliminate Chinese telecommunications equipment that could pose a security threat to the country, no matter the cost. This marks a dramatic shift from Germany’s stance just a few years ago.
In an interview with Handelsblatt, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser criticized local telecom operators for their slow removal of equipment from companies considered potentially dangerous, including Huawei and ZTE. “The risks have been known for a long time,” Faeser stated. “Providers have had enough time to adapt.” Regardless of the costs for operators like Deutsche Telekom, any equipment and electronic components that pose security risks will be disconnected, the minister emphasized.
This approach demonstrates a radical change in the German government’s attitude toward the threat posed by Chinese tech firms. Just four years ago, Germany rejected U.S. pressure to exclude Huawei from its telecom networks, citing a lack of evidence of security issues.
High Costs for Replacing Equipment
The cost of completely replacing equipment nationwide will be significant. Huawei’s share of Germany’s 5G infrastructure is estimated at around 60%. For comparison, the UK estimated the cost of removing Huawei equipment at £4 billion.
Earlier this month, it was predicted that the new policy would cost the state-owned railway operator Deutsche Bahn at least €400 million. And how many similar public and private companies operate in Germany? The question is rhetorical.
EU Pushes for a Ban on Chinese Telecom Equipment
The European Commission is urging all EU countries to ban Chinese telecom equipment from their networks. According to EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, Europe cannot afford a critical dependency that could be weaponized against the entire region.
Huawei declined to comment, but has previously strongly denied that its products pose any security threat. Nevertheless, under Chinese law, local organizations are required to provide any data they possess to the government upon request, including information about foreign clients.
Global Perspectives Differ
It’s worth noting that not all countries agree with the EU and U.S. position on excluding Chinese manufacturers from domestic communication networks. For example, Malaysia announced earlier this year that it would not interfere in commercial decisions by telecom operators regarding 5G network equipment suppliers.