NATO defence ministers are expected Thursday to agree to ramp up their countries' 5G security requirements, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said, amid concern among allies over the risk presented by Chinese 5G tech giant Huawei.
The United States, NATO's largest ally, is particularly wary of Huawei's involvement in the construction of 5G networks, saying the state-aligned firm's technology could be used for espionage.
Modern 5G connectivity provides super-fast internet services and is seen as paving the way for new technologies involving instant online feedback.
Under revamped guidelines for civilian telecommunication systems, countries will need to carry out thorough risk assessments and consider "the consequences of foreign ownership, control or direct investment," Stoltenberg said.
These requirements should then be taken into account in national decisions on designing, building and operating telecommunications networks.
"These requirements are not about any particular country or any particular company," Stoltenberg stressed to reporters on Wednesday, ahead of this week's meeting of defence ministers in Brussels.
"They are about the need for all allies to have thorough security assessments and mitigation measures," he added.
But in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa published Thursday, Stoltenberg said China presented the alliance with challenges, not just in relation to 5G but also given the size of its military budget - the world's second largest - and its growing global presence.
