US-Huawei sanctions leading to ‘major 5G slowdown’ in Europe

Major agitation between the US and China are leading to delays to the rollout of 5G networks across Europe.

Anders Nilsson, the CEO of a major Swedish telecoms firm Tele2 has claimed that US sanctions against Huawei, especially, have led to his company postponing deals with equipment suppliers.

Moreover, these concerns are widespread across the industry and are causing delays to 5G investment and deployment across Europe.

"We have a global supply chain, so whoever you buy equipment from you will find components from China," Nilsson told news agency Reuters.

"Even if we buy equipment from Ericsson, which is our neighbour here, you will find Chinese hardware and parts in that equipment.

"We're right now talking to all the vendors, but decisions are postponed. This is not only Huawei; this is all vendors."

His comments come just as President Trump announced this weekend that the US would relieve some aspects of the sanctions placed on Huawei; namely that the Chinese company can resume buying equipment from US firms.

This cease-fire agreement would involve the US agreeing to delay additional tariffs on Chinese goods with China, in turn, buying large amounts of farming produce, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Tele2's CEO Nilsson also claimed that consumers were likely to face higher prices if national governments were to ban Huawei infrastructure altogether and limit competition.

It's an issue that has arisen in political conversations in the UK in recent months, as the government considered the idea of imposing its own restrictions on Huawei equipment being integrated into British 5G infrastructure.

But all suggestions point to a negative impact on 5G deployment and the economy. For example, research published earlier this year showed that an outright ban on 5G equipment could cost the economy between 4.5 billion and 6.8 billion.

The prime minister Theresa May, in April, struck a deal that granted Huawei partial access to the UK's critical 5G infrastructure, despite security concerns. This policy could change, however, once a new prime minister takes the reigns by the end of the month.

"This is not good news and shows the negative impact this whole issue is having on 5G rollout," PP Foresight's tech, media and telco analyst Paolo Pescatore told IT Pro, discussing Anders Nilsson's comments.

"Telcos' options are very limited and it is time to move forward without holding back the market.

"On a positive note," he added, "It gives telcos some breathing space to hold back on network investments as margins are being squeezed.

"With the consumer business model being unproven it might be a blessing in disguise. Furthermore, there's plentiful capacity with current 4G networks."

EE has already selectively launched its 5G network in the UK, with Vodafone set to launch its network tomorrow.