Nokia says the 5G would not be delayed by the ban on Chinese suppliers

BARCELONA (Reuters) – Nokia does not expect Chinese companies that are excluded for security reasons to delay the deployment of next-generation 5G services in European markets, Reutein chief executive Rajeev Suri told Reuters.

The debate is raging in Europe on the need to take into account Washington's calls to ban the Chinese Huawei Technologies, even as major telecom operators warn that such a decision could delay the deployment of 5G for several years.

Suri, however, downplayed concerns that fewer suppliers could slow down network upgrades. The real reasons for Europe's 5G lagging behind the US are delays in spectrum issuance to operators, as well as high bid costs in countries such as Italy, he said. .

"I think you can not say that you know that the situation caused by some of these problems will delay the deployment of 5G or that others are not able or willing to provide equipment. That would not be accurate, "Suri said on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress, the main annual gathering of the sector in Barcelona.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has lobbied European allies to exclude Huawei, saying the company is too tied up with the Chinese government and its equipment could be exposed to cyber espionage.

Huawei strongly rejects the allegations and President Guo Ping, speaking in Barcelona, ​​reiterated that he would never allow a country to insert so-called back doors into its equipment.

Nokia, the second largest player in the network behind Huawei, warned against a weak start to 2019, but expects a recovery in sales and growth in 2020 with the acceleration of the deployment. of the 5G.

AUSTRALIA WINS

The Finnish company announced a major victory in Australia, which banned Huawei, stating that it would provide a fixed 5G wireless access network to the Optus operator, with 50 sites to be put online from here the month of March.

As a first step, Nokia will provide a limited number of Optus customers with ultra-fast wireless internet access that can support multiple devices while delivering ultra-high definition video at home, the two companies announced.

Nokia also announced that it has agreed with Korea Telecom to conduct tests on 5G for service automation, virtualization and network cutting, allowing multiple networks to operate over a shared infrastructure. .

It is also expected that Nokia will cooperate with the British Vodafone on active antennas to increase 5G capacity and reduce costs, as well as an agreement with India's Bharti Airtel to test a so-called premier solution. line that will speed up 5G operations.

The rapid implementation of 5G depends on the ability of antitrust regulators to allow the consolidation of telecommunications markets, said Suri, adding that it would create more powerful players capable of taking on the large investments needed for modernization and upgrading. network upgrade.

This applied both to Europe and the United States, where T-Mobile's control of Sprint Corp. of $ 26 billion is being reviewed by regulators. Accepting this deal would be positive for 5G, Suri said at a subsequent press conference.

"If you want to accelerate 5G, this merger gives you the opportunity to do it, simply with the specter and the economic situation," he told reporters and analysts.