Germany plans to ban parts from Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE in its 5G networks from 2026, government sources told AFP on Wednesday.
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Under the government’s proposals, Chinese components would be excluded from the “core network” from January 1, 2026, these sources said, noting that the ban would also apply to parts already installed.
However, this project, which is supported by the Ministry of the Interior, must be the subject of an agreement within Olaf Scholz’s government coalition. According to the German press, not all ministers have yet agreed on this.
In the proposal consulted by AFP, the Interior Ministry refers in particular to the need to “reduce the risks” vis-à-vis China, as recommended in Germany’s recent strategy towards the Asian giant.
Critical infrastructures, which also include telephone networks, are particularly affected by this policy of strengthening security and reducing one-sided dependencies.
The government’s current review of telecommunications systems is “not yet completed and discussions with other ministries involved in the decision are ongoing,” an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday during a regular press conference.
Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, Germany has tightened its position on China over the past year, trying to maintain a delicate balance between continuing economic cooperation with its largest trading partner and protecting its strategic and security interests.