Belgian security services call for stricter 5G protections as Huawei concerns cast shadow over European debate
- Country’s telecoms minister Philippe De Backer tells parliament it had been recommended that the security level be raised so that government could place restrictions on ‘unreliable’ suppliers
- The US has already excluded the Chinese telecoms giant from its network and European countries are now debating whether to follow suit
Belgium’s security services have recommended stricter security measures for the roll-out of 5G telecommunications as the ongoing debate about the potential risks from the Chinese tech giant Huawei plays out across Europe.
Telecommunications minister Philippe De Backer told the country’s parliament that the security services had recommended raising the risk level on the fifth generation wireless programme, according to the Brussels Times.
Currently the risk level for 5G is one, which allows suppliers unrestricted market access, but the recommendation to raise it to level four, one below the highest level, would enable the government to limit the use of technology from “unreliable” companies.
The change must be approved by the Belgian government, but De Backer told DeMorgen newspaper that he supports the move.
The criteria for defining whether suppliers are reliable have yet to be determined and the recommendation from the security services did not name any companies.