The Portuguese nation could become the latest stage in yet another setback for Huawei and other Chinese companies focused on building and developing 5G network infrastructure.
According to the agency Reutersthe Government of Portugal decided, at the end of last week, to prevent the participation of certain agents in the network infrastructure in question.
Portugal bans Huawei from its 5G mobile networks
More specifically, by the will of the government, Huawei and other China-based companies will be excluded from 5G mobile networks, as well as other entities based outside of NATO.
Likewise, companies based outside the OECD will also be deprived of participation and access to the construction of 5G mobile networks in Portugal.
This fact is now exposed after working with Huawei for several years. That is to say, the Government now takes a diametrically opposite attitude towards this (and other) Chinese companies.
EITHER advertisement It was issued by the Office of National Security (GNS). This body considers that companies based outside of NATO and OECD member countries represent a “great risk” to national security.
In other words, non-European entities such as ZTE will also be excluded from 5G mobile networks in Portugal and not just Huawei.
Huawei will not be aware of the decision in Portugal
In response, a Huawei spokesperson, speaking to the financial times, states that the company had no prior knowledge of the matter. In fact, he points out that he has not been heard or questioned by the competent national authorities.
It is important to remember that during the last two decades Huawei has worked with several telecom operators in Portugal. In fact, it has become one of the favorite brands of the Portuguese over the last decade thanks to its quality/price in Android smartphones and photographic capabilities.
However, the restriction now lifted by the Portuguese government is in line with the Western bloc. Portugal is the latest nation to ban Chinese companies, following the example of Canada, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Finally, it should be noted that in 2020 the three major operators in Portugal had already expressed their intention not to use Huawei equipment in their 5G networks.
In short, everything points to an effective barrier to Huawei and other Chinese companies in our country in everything that has to do with fifth-generation mobile networks.