Security concerns lead Chunghwa Telecom and Taiwan Mobile to choose Finnish company. Taiwan will invest 605 million euros to encourage the industrial development of the 5G system. US government: Huawei is a "threat to national security".
Taipei (AsiaNews / Agencies) – As of yesterday, Taiwan has its first 5G network. Chunghwa Telecom, the first telephone operator on the island, has launched the ultra-fast internet that allows you to download a two-hour movie in just three minutes. The system is based on Nokia technology. The Finnish company was chosen over Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant that the United States accuses of spying for the government.
Nokia has also secured a 401-million-euro contract to supply Taiwan Mobile, the second largest local telecommunications company, which will activate its 5G services today. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen has announced that the government will invest € 605 million over the next four years to support the industrial development of 5G networks.
Together with the United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore and to a lesser extent New Zealand, Taipei has effectively excluded Huawei from its ultra-fast internet system. The charges laid by the Trump administration have resulted in many countries to renege on the Chinese 5G system, considered the most advanced in the world.
Yesterday, the US government formally designated Huawei (and ZTE, another major Chinese technology company) as a "threat to national security". Huawei cannot sell its products in the U.S., and cannot do business with U.S. companies. In addition, Washington has introduced sanctions for foreign companies that sell technology - especially microchips - to the Chinese company.