Portugal Considers Banning Huawei From National 5G Networks
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Loading... - Garza Enrique
- 30 May 2023
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Portugal is considering the possibility of implementing a comprehensive prohibition on Huawei and other Chinese companies from engaging in their 5G infrastructure development. The Portuguese government has made a recommendation that local carriers should be forbidden from acquiring 5G equipment from suppliers located outside the European Union or from countries that are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED).
According to a statement released by Portugal's Higher Council for Cybersecurity on Thursday, companies operating outside of these jurisdictions pose a significant security risk to the country's wireless networks. While the document did not explicitly mention Huawei, it implies that the company, along with other Chinese suppliers such as ZTE, would effectively be excluded from participating in Portugal's 5G networks if the country's cabinet approves the security council's recommendation. This is because China is not a member of NATO, the OCED, or the EU.
A spokesperson from Huawei expressed their lack of awareness and consultation regarding the matter, stating, "Huawei has no prior knowledge of, and hasn't been consulted about this matter. Over the past two decades, Huawei has worked with Portuguese carriers to build out wireless networks and provide quality services that connect millions of people. We will continue to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, and serve Portuguese customers and partners who rely on our products and services."
For Portugal to ban Chinese companies from participating in their 5G networks would mark a significant change in direction, considering the close relationship the country has maintained with China, which has been a major source of investment in recent years. Notably, Portugal has been one of the top recipients of Chinese investment per capita. In 2018, Altice Portugal, the largest wireless carrier in the country, agreed to utilize Huawei equipment for a portion of its 5G deployment. If Portugal proceeds with the ban, it will join the ranks of Canada and several other European nations, including Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, that have recently prohibited Huawei from involvement in their 5G networks.
