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Telefonica Germany Has Selected Huawei to Help Build Its 5G Network

CNN Business is reporting that Telefonica Germany has decided to use Huawei equipment to build its 5G network.

Huawei has been fighting allegations that its equipment can be used by the Chinese government to spy on companies or governments using Huawei’s equipment. The U.S. has already blacklisted Huawei and has been campaigning allies to do the same.

Germany has been something of a battleground for the telecommunications company, as conservative elements within the German government have called on Chancellor Merkel to ban Huawei. So far, Merkel has refused those calls, instead saying the government would outline security measures all telecommunications vendors must meet.

In the midst of the back-and-forth over Huawei’s role, Telefonica Germany has announced they plan on using the company’s equipment in their 5G rollout, although they told CNN Business they “will only go ahead with the partnership once Huawei receives a security certification from Berlin.”

Nonetheless, the news is a big win for Huawei, and adds weight to the claims of network operators that it will be difficult to roll out 5G without access to Huawei’s equipment.