Germany Negotiates Deal to Reduce Huawei’s 5G Network Influence

11 Jul, 2024

Germany Negotiates Deal to Reduce Huawei’s 5G Network Influence

The German government and major mobile carriers have reached a new agreement to phase out Chinese technology from the country’s 5G wireless network over the next five years. According to a joint report from Sueddeutsche Zeitung, NDR, and WDR, the deal allows Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and Telefonica Deutschland to extend the timeline for removing Huawei and ZTE technology from critical 5G components. Under this updated plan, operators will have until 2026 to remove Chinese technology from the 5G data centers that make up the core network, a delay from the previous deadline.

In the subsequent phase, the role of Chinese-made parts in antennas, transmission lines, and towers will be nearly eliminated by 2029. This new schedule provides more time for the carriers to replace these components while ensuring network security and operational stability. The decision, driven by national security concerns, reflects ongoing discussions between the German interior ministry and the mobile carriers to address the challenges of updating the 5G infrastructure. The extended deadlines aim to balance security measures with the practical needs of maintaining and upgrading Germany’s 5G network.