Status: 03/17/2023 12:09 p.m
The Federal Ministry of Economics warns of the effects of replacing Chinese components in mobile communications technology. Both network operation and the fulfillment of supply requirements could be jeopardized.
The Federal Ministry of Economics fears significant effects on the mobile network in Germany if components from the Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE have to be replaced on a large scale. This emerges from a letter from the ministry to the economic committee of the Bundestag, available to the Reuters news agency.
“If extensive conversions are required due to bans or orders that have been made, there can be a significant impact on the operation of the mobile network and the fulfillment of coverage requirements,” it says.
Security risk assessment
The background is the announcement by the Ministry of the Interior that it will check by the summer whether network components from Huawei and ZTE that are already installed pose security risks for the modern 5G mobile network. If necessary, these components should be removed. However, the government had emphasized that no large-scale expansion was to be expected.
The implementation of the test set out in the IT Security Act 2021 is not aimed directly at China or its manufacturers, but is intended to help reduce risks and excessive dependencies on one manufacturer.
demand for more control
The Federal Ministry of Economics points out that the exact effects on mobile network operators and other parts of the economy are not foreseeable and would depend on individual decisions and transition periods. However, the letter also refers to the necessary proportionality in the weighing up.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) had already expressed sympathy for the stricter test and emphasized that the problem of increasing dependence on Chinese hardware had to be kept in mind.
“I miss a certain commitment that the problem of increasing dependence on Chinese hardware is on the screen and that the security concerns are at least shared,” said Jens Zimmermann, a member of the SPD Bundestag and digital expert, to Reuters.