Europe is increasingly closing its doors to Huawei

The latest reports suggest that Portugal is considering excluding Huawei from its national 5G infrastructure. This information comes from Reuters, which cites a document from Portugal's cyber security council as its source.

According to this document, the Portuguese government harbors concerns regarding the security aspects of Huawei's equipment. The plan outlined therein stipulates constraints on the use of high-risk gear, Huawei's included, along with a few other firms.

It is suggested that Portuguese telecommunication providers should abstain from procuring 5G hardware from suppliers located outside the European Union or from countries that are not signatories to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The implications of this move could be immense for Huawei, which holds the position of the leading global provider of 5G technology. If a ban is indeed enforced, it would significantly affect the rollout of 5G in Portugal. Altice Portugal, the country's major wireless carrier, had earlier signed an agreement to incorporate Huawei equipment into its 5G deployment.

Europe is increasingly closing its doors to Huawei

Huawei has expressed its disappointment over Portugal's decision, assuring that it will persist in its efforts to engage with the government and address its security concerns. The company maintains confidence in its capability to meet the necessary security standards.

The current situation unfolds amidst escalating apprehensions regarding Huawei's equipment security, given allegations of the company's susceptibility to Chinese espionage. Consequently, several nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan, have either barred Huawei from their 5G networks or imposed stringent regulations.

Should Portugal proceed with its proposed ban, it would follow in the footsteps of Canada and several European nations such as Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all of whom have recently prohibited the Chinese firm's participation in their 5G infrastructure.

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