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exclude-chinese-firms-from-5g-network-minister-says-idUSKBN1ZT2P3

Technology News
January 30, 2020 / 8:55 PM / 2 months ago

Italy has no plans to exclude Chinese firms from 5G network, minister says

FILE PHOTO: The EU flag and a smartphone with the Huawei and 5G network logo are seen on a PC motherboard
in this illustration taken January 29, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

ROME (Reuters) - Italy has no plan to stop Chinese telecom firms, including Huawei,
playing a role in the development of the country’s future 5G network, a junior
government minister told Reuters on Thursday.

The United States has lobbied Italy and other European allies to avoid using Huawei
equipment in their next generation networks and to closely scrutinize rival ZTE,
saying the companies could pose a security risk. Huawei and ZTE have strongly
denied the accusations.

The Trump administration has also threatened to withhold intelligence from

governments that allow, Huawei, the world’s top provider of telecoms equipment, into
their networks, but there is little clarity on whether Washington will follow through
on the threat.

“Italy must first of all protect its national interests,” Industry Undersecretary Mirella
Liuzzi said.

She added that the government should tackle the issue of national safety “without
being naive, with the necessary precautions but without keeping anyone out on the
door step”.

The Italian parliament last year passed legislation giving the government special
protective and vetting powers over 5G supply deals between domestic firms and non-
EU providers, given the sector is considered strategically important.

Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Giles Elgood

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