The Politics of Networks Power Rivalries Infected 5G

The next generation of mobile broadband networks should be a technical matter, pure and simple, right? Wrong. The build-out of 5G has been caught up in a whirlwind of arrests, indictments, political threats, allegations and counter-allegations.

As states are poised to make procurement decisions for 5G infrastructure, they are having to confront — and potentially take sides in — geopolitical rivalries. Right now, the U.S. and China seem to be borrowing from one another’s playbooks. National security concerns provide cover for U.S. protectionist policies in relation to Chinese tech. Meanwhile, the ‘Made in China 2025’ strategy aims for China’s technical innovation and quality to triumph in international markets.