Criticism from China

5G expansion: China insists on fair conditions

From 2026, components from Chinese providers will no longer be allowed to be installed in the so-called core network.

(Bild: AFP)

Germany has decided that components from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE may no longer be used in the country's 5G mobile network from 2029. The end of 2026 is the end for the 5G core network, and the end of 2029 for the transport and access network.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said this on Friday. "This means more security for citizens."

China had already reacted critically to the impending decision. A government spokeswoman in Beijing said that politicizing economic, trade and technology issues would only disrupt cooperation and was not in the interests of either side.

The People's Republic hopes that Germany will respect the facts, make sensible decisions and offer a transparent and non-discriminatory market environment for companies from all countries.

Concerns about Chinese access
Chinese technology in 5G network expansion has been the subject of heated debate for years. The debate is driven by concerns that China could gain access to German cell phone networks via providers such as Huawei.

The Chinese government spokeswoman pointed out that Huawei and other Chinese telecommunications companies have been active in Europe for many years and have built high-quality infrastructure there. They had also created many jobs and tax revenues.

"Bordering on negligence"
In the Bundestag, however, there is resistance to the German government's decision. "The fact that the companies have to wait years to install the relevant components represents a veritable security risk," said Konstantin von Notz, deputy leader of the Green parliamentary group, to the Reuters news agency on Thursday. "Five years is simply an extremely long time, especially in view of what has happened in terms of security policy over the past two years."

Von Notz accused the German government of placing too much emphasis on economic policy considerations. "That borders on negligence."

"It is a mystery to me why it took the traffic light more than two years to decide to exclude Chinese components from the German mobile network after the new geopolitical situation since 24 February 2022 due to internal disputes," CDU digital expert Rainer Brandl also criticized.