Germany is considering banning certain components from Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE in its telecoms networks, a government source said, in a potentially significant move to address security concerns, according to a report on Reuters.
An interior ministry spokesperson confirmed that the German government was carrying out a general review of telecoms tech suppliers, but said that this was not directed at specific manufacturers.
The interior ministry said the government was conducting a review of the security risks posed by components already installed in the country’s 5G networks — and that the authorities were also reviewing whether a change in the law was required.
“In particular, there are risks of misuse with regard to the security, confidentiality, integrity, availability or functionality of these critical telecommunications infrastructures,” it said. “Of course, it is also about not being too dependent on certain providers.”
The ministry noted that the government was examining the need for a change in the law in order to “better exclude security risks and to be able to reduce dependencies on certain manufacturers”.