Germany passes law to block Huawei from 5G networks

The German cabinet has just drafted a new law that gives authorities the power to block Chinese telecoms company Huawei from the country's 5G networks over cybersecurity concerns.

The law will not outright block the Huawei from operating within its borders, but gives German tech companies the right of refusal on cooperating with or using Huawei technology when setting up their 5G networks.

Read more: Huawei to appeal ban from Swedish 5G network

Ministers have described the new bill as a "breakthrough" for German cybersecurity and hope it will encourage more thorough checks regarding telecoms suppliers in the future.

Part of the law dictates companies setting up networks must now inform officials about critical components for implementation, which may then be either approved or rejected over interests of national security.

Aspects of these companies' supply chains, such as vendors, must also be analysed for their "trustworthiness" to ensure the products cannot be used for the purposes of espionage or digital terrorism.

This comes as growing sentiment among European nations - egged on by US President Donald Trump's assistance should move against Huawei, claiming their technology could be used in spying - have taken hardline stances against the Chinese company.

Read more: Bulgaria becomes latest to join US anti-Huawei coalition

The UK, US and Sweden have all taken more drastic approaches by outright banning Huawei from operating within their telecoms markets.

Germany is heavily reliant on the Chinese telecoms market, and so may be trying to avoid outright retaliation by Huawei.

Nils Schmid, an MP for the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP) has confirmed the law would make it next to impossible for Huawei to enter the German 5G market but has admitted it would depend on how the legislation is implemented.

He told the FT: "The crucial thing is that it gives us the ability to exclude Huawei. Now it all depends on whether the political will is there to do it.

“In the end, [Angela Merkel] was forced to accept this  approach because the pressure from the SPD and also from sections of her own party, became too great."

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