Vodafone CEO Says Banning Huawei Could Set Europe's 5G Rollout Back Another Two Years

The CEO of Vodafone, the world's second-largest mobile operator, warned excluding Huawei from Europe's 5G networks could be 'hugely disruptive' to national infrastructure and consumers. CEO Nick Read said that it would be 'very very expensive' for operators and consumers if companies were forced to swap their Huawei equipment in favor of competitors', adding it would delay Europe's 5G rollout by 'probably two years.' CNBC reports: Speaking at a press conference at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Monday, Vodafone CEO Nick Read said banning Huawei from providing 5G infrastructure in Europe would hamper competition in the supply chain. China's Huawei, Finland's Nokia and Sweden's Ericsson are the three biggest providers of telecommunications equipment in the world, accounting for more than half of revenues in the market, according to research firm Dell'Oro Group. 'If we concentrate it down to two players I think that's an unhealthy position not just for us as an industry but also for national infrastructure in the country,' Read said.

'It structurally disadvantages Europe,' he said 'Of course the U.S. don't have that problem because they don't put Huawei equipment in.' Vodafone's Read said governments need to take a 'fact-based' approach to assessing security concerns with Huawei, adding he will not be meeting with any U.S. officials in Barcelona this week. 'I would at this stage prefer to be working with governments and securities on a national basis and making sure we have a fact-based conversation,' he said. Vodafone's Read said there is 'high competition' among the three equipment providers but added Huawei has had 'leading technology.' In a roundtable with media on Sunday in Barcelona, Huawei's rotating chairman Guo Ping claimed the company is 12 months ahead of its competitors when it comes to 5G technology. Huawei has been left out of the U.S. market with officials citing security concerns that its technology could enable spying from the Chinese government, accusations Huawei denies. The U.S., the UK and Germany are weighing possible bans on Huawei's 5G equipment citing security risks.

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