The roadmap for the exclusion of Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE from the German 5G mobile networks is now binding. According to an answer from the German government to a minor question from the AfD parliamentary group (printed matter 21/4960), the federal government has sealed the exchange of Chinese technology from the 5G networks in a public law contract with Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica. This ends years of debate about espionage risks and technological dependencies in the critical infrastructure.
Huawei and ZTE: two-stage timetable for the 5G exclusion
The agreement provides for a two-stage timetable. The three major mobile network operators must remove all critical components from Huawei and ZTE from their 5G core networks by the end of 2026. The core network is considered the central “brain” of mobile communications – this is where sensitive data streams converge and are processed.
In the second phase, which must be completed by the end of 2029, the exchange will be extended to the network management systems in the access and transport networks. This involves the control level, which is used to manage radio masts and data transmission paths, for example. According to the Federal Government, the BMI and network operators have used the 3GPP standards as a guide when defining the network areas affected.
Public law contracts based on the BSI Act
The measures are based on individual contracts under public law that the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) has concluded with Telekom, Vodafone and Telefónica. These contracts end the administrative proceedings previously conducted on the basis of Section 9b (4) of the BSI Act (old version). In 2023, the BMI had already initiated an investigation into whether the use of certain critical components from the two Chinese manufacturers compromised Germany’s public security.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior remains in charge. The Federal Ministry for Digital and State Modernization (BMDS) will be involved in strategic management and control processes – a point that is noteworthy given the long debate on responsibilities within the federal government.
Government remains silent on security incidents and costs
Explosive: In its response, the German government refuses to provide any information on specific security incidents or vulnerabilities in Huawei components. The information is too sensitive to disclose even in classified form with regard to the welfare of the state and the work of the intelligence services.
The government is also silent on the financial consequences of the exchange: there are “no findings” on the effects on mobile network providers and possible burdens on the federal budget. The technical monitoring of the networks will continue to take place via biennial audits in accordance with the Telecommunications Act – the results of which, however, are classified as business secrets of the network operators.
Criticism: Does the exclusion go far enough?
There was already criticism of the long transition periods when the agreement was announced in July 2024. Experts pointed out that the 5G mobile communications standard is becoming increasingly important for critical applications such as industrial control processes, autonomous driving and healthcare. Furthermore, the ban only extends to the “critical functions of the management systems” – Huawei’s actual base stations and antennas on radio masts remain unaffected by the regulation.
Internationally, countries such as the USA, Canada, France, Sweden and Australia have already excluded Huawei and ZTE from their 5G networks much earlier. Germany is now following the recommendations of the EU 5G toolbox, which provides for the protection of critical infrastructure from high-risk suppliers.
Background: Why Huawei is considered a risk
The security concerns regarding Huawei and ZTE are primarily based on the close connection between Chinese companies and the Chinese Communist Party. Under Chinese law, companies are legally obliged to cooperate with state security authorities. There are fears that backdoors could be built into network components on Beijing’s instructions or that the infrastructure could be sabotaged in the event of a crisis.
In the review documents, the German government states that there are “considerable structural dependencies” on Chinese manufacturers in the construction of the German 5G networks – particularly in the access network, in which over 60% Huawei technology is reportedly installed.
Conclusion: a milestone with limitations
The contractual fixation of the exclusion of Huawei and ZTE from the German 5G networks is a significant step for the security of critical infrastructure. Germany is thus putting national security interests above economic considerations. However, it remains to be seen how smoothly the exchange will run in practice – and whether the regulation, which deliberately excludes base stations, actually offers sufficient protection. In any case, the decision marks the foreseeable end of Huawei and ZTE’s role as core suppliers for the German mobile communications market.
