Portugal Takes Steps Towards Excluding Chinese 5G Tech Suppliers

Portugal's cybersecurity council is set to issue regulations potentially barring telecom operators from utilizing Chinese equipment for their 5G mobile and 4G platforms. This move could have major implications for Chinese tech heavyweight Huawei and its ambitions in the Portuguese market.
5G
5G

Portugal’s Council for Cybersecurity (CSSC) is poised to release a resolution that might effectively exclude telecommunications operators from using Chinese tech in their advanced 5G mobile networks as well as the foundational 4G platforms.


The CSSC, a consultative body to the Prime Minister, drafted a document on May 23, which adds another hurdle to Huawei’s bid to penetrate the 5G market in Portugal and potentially renew existing contracts. According to a law passed in August of the previous year, the government reserves the right to command “the exclusion, limitations on usage, or discontinuation of use of equipment or services” provided by telecom companies. This legislation also establishes the conditions and deadlines for compliance.

There was no immediate commentary from the government.

Portugal’s leading operators, Altice, NOS, and Vodafone, have already indicated that they won’t employ Huawei’s gear in their 5G core networks. This is in line with Europe and the U.S.’ apprehensions that involving Chinese technology in vital infrastructure may jeopardize security, an assertion that Beijing and Huawei have rejected. Portugal’s present 5G networks are non-standalone and largely reliant on 4G equipment and technology.

The CSSC, without explicitly mentioning China or any Chinese providers, pointed out a “high risk” to security posed by suppliers or providers under the control, interference, or pressure of governments that meddle in their activities in third-party nations.

This stance is based on a confidential report that examined the security of equipment employed in public electronic communications networks involving 5G technology.

The council also highlighted security threats associated with countries that don’t have agreements on data protection, cybersecurity, or intellectual property protection with Portugal or the European Union, or aren’t members of the EU, NATO, or OECD.

In a statement, Huawei mentioned that it had “no prior awareness of, and wasn’t consulted about this issue.” It is currently collecting information about “the nature of the assessment” and expressed its hope to continue serving clients in Portugal. Europe is turning into a tech battlefield amid the rivalry between Beijing and Washington, and if Huawei is excluded, European rivals Ericsson and Nokia could establish a supplier duopoly.


Recent Content

Discover how Ericsson’s collaboration with OneLayer at the Global Utilities Innovation Center enhances security in private cellular networks for utilities.
Vodafone has partnered with leading futurist Andrew Grill – the Actionable Futurist – on a new report ‘Living in the Moment’, which includes Andrew’s top five predictions for 5G in UK.
“Successful B-2-B Partnerships can evolve with Public Cloud Companies and Telcos, if Telcos start to offer network-capabilities in the form of APIs in collaboration with public cloud companies, to accelerate NaaS-based alliances.” – Vaibhav Mehta, Founder & Director, Nabstract.io
This collaboration, named 5GMEC4EU, is a coordination and support action (CSA) awarded by the digital sector of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) to Monotch and Detecon. The project aims to boost 5G corridor and smart community deployments, seamlessly integrating roads, railroads, and communities. It serves as a hub for harmonizing European 5G, edge, and cloud initiatives. This project, with a budget of nearly €2 million for 30 months, is set to make a significant impact on the establishment of a unified pan-European 5G and edge cloud services network. The involved companies, Monotch and Detecon, are leaders in intelligent transport systems and global management and technology consultancy, respectively.

Currently, no free downloads are available for related categories. Search similar content to download:

  • Reset

It seems we can't find what you're looking for.

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top