Germany announced on Thursday that it will phase out the use of components from Chinese telecom giants Huawei and ZTE in its 5G networks over the coming years due to national security concerns. The interior ministry stated that parts from these firms will no longer be used in “core” 5G mobile networks by the end of 2026, and their systems must be replaced in 5G access and transmission infrastructure by the end of 2029.
“We are protecting the central nervous systems of Germany as a business location — and we are protecting the communication of citizens, companies, and the state,” said Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. “We must reduce security risks and, unlike in the past, avoid one-sided dependencies.”
The ministry emphasized that 5G networks are part of Germany’s “critical infrastructure,” crucial for sectors ranging from health to transport and energy. Despite long-standing close economic ties between China and Germany, the world’s second and third-largest economies, Berlin is aiming to reduce its economic dependency on China. This shift has been driven by the war in Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis, which exposed Germany’s over-reliance on Russia.
