5G: security issues and delays concern the European Court of Auditors

Too many Member States are behind on the 2025 target, set more than five years ago by the European Commission, to see 5G deployed in all urban areas of the Union and on all major transport axes . Belgium, which a year ago was among the five EU countries least likely to achieve this goal, only ten days ago launched its call for applications for the new 5G frequency spectrum, which is to be auctioned next June.

Any delay is detrimental to the economy, said Annemie Turtelboom, member of the European Court of Auditors in charge of this report on 5G. The former Belgian minister underlines that this technology is supposed to lead to an increase of 1,000 billion euros in the EU's GDP between 2021 and 2025 and lead to the creation or transformation of some 20 million jobs. Some of the strategic sectors of 5G are connected cars, healthcare or the management of energy systems.

"Furthermore, Member States' approaches to 5G network security remain an issue of strategic importance for the EU's single market and technological sovereignty."

Six of the eight main 5G equipment manufacturers, including Huawei (China) and Samsung (South Korea), are established in countries outside the EU, with sometimes very different legislation regarding the protection of personal data. Espionage, cyberattacks and ransomware are threats. A 5G network security toolkit, proposed by the Commission in early 2020, came too late for several mobile network operators, who had already selected their equipment manufacturers, explains Ms Turtelboom. This toolbox is also too "light" because it is not binding, but it is true that European regulations would have taken longer, she concedes.

In Belgium, none of the mobile telephone operators has yet announced a 5G agreement with equipment manufacturers other than the two Europeans on the market, the Finnish Nokia and the Swedish Ericsson, which according to the Court of Auditors meet the requirements. According to her, the USA (Qualcomm) is failing on perceptions of the rule of law and data protection, Japan (Sharp and LG) on the rule of law, South Korea (Samsung) on ​​the independence of the justice (legal remedies), openness to foreign investment and reciprocity, and China (Huawei) on all of these points.

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What could be the impact of the construction, in a Member State which would have specific links with a third country, of 5G networks with equipment acquired from a supplier considered high risk by another Member State, questions the Court. Hungary, for example, is not ready to impose the slightest framework and has officially refused to join the program carried out by the United States aimed at limiting the presence of Chinese equipment manufacturers in the hearts of 5G networks, note- she.

Auditors are sounding the alarm: such a scenario could have repercussions on cross-border security and disrupt intra-EU competition.

Another area of ​​concern is the level of quality of service expected from 5G networks. The Commission has never issued a standard in this regard. This could be a source of inequalities within the EU both for access to 5G services and for their quality, which would have the effect of widening the “digital divide” even further, underline the listeners.

The report did not address - for lack of available means according to Ms. Turtelboom - health issues related to 5G.

Read also: 5G: Belgian health professionals give the alert

Too many Member States are behind on the 2025 target, set more than five years ago by the European Commission, to see 5G deployed in all urban areas of the Union and on all major transport axes . Belgium, which a year ago was among the five EU countries least likely to achieve this goal, only ten days ago launched its call for applications for the new 5G frequency spectrum, which is to be auctioned next June. Any delay is detrimental to the economy, said Annemie Turtelboom, member of the European Court of Auditors in charge of this report on 5G. The former Belgian minister underlines that this technology is supposed to lead to an increase of 1,000 billion euros in the EU's GDP between 2021 and 2025 and lead to the creation or transformation of some 20 million jobs. Some of the strategic sectors of 5G are connected cars, healthcare or the management of energy systems. "Furthermore, Member States' approaches to 5G network security remain an issue of strategic importance for the EU's single market and technological sovereignty." Six of the eight main 5G equipment manufacturers, including Huawei (China) and Samsung (South Korea), are established in countries outside the EU, with sometimes very different legislation regarding the protection of personal data. Espionage, cyberattacks and ransomware are threats. A 5G network security toolkit, proposed by the Commission in early 2020, came too late for several mobile network operators, who had already selected their equipment manufacturers, explains Ms Turtelboom. This toolbox is also too "light" because it is not binding, but it is true that European regulations would have taken longer, she concedes. In Belgium, none of the mobile telephone operators has again announced a 5G agreement with equipment manufacturers other than the two Europeans on the market, the Finnish Nokia and the Swedish Ericsson, which according to the Court of Auditors meet the requirements. According to her, the USA (Qualcomm) is failing on perceptions of the rule of law and data protection, Japan (Sharp and LG) on the rule of law, South Korea (Samsung) on ​​the independence of the justice (legal remedies), openness to foreign investment and reciprocity, and China (Huawei) on all of these points. What could be the impact of the construction, in a Member State which would have specific links with a third country, of 5G networks with equipment acquired from a supplier considered high risk by another Member State, questions the Court. Hungary, for example, is not ready to impose the slightest framework and has officially refused to join the program carried out by the United States aimed at limiting the presence of Chinese equipment manufacturers in the hearts of 5G networks, note- The auditors are sounding the alarm: such a scenario could have repercussions on cross-border security and disrupt intra-EU competition. Another area of ​​concern is the level of quality of service expected from 5G networks. The Commission has never issued a standard in this regard. This could be a source of inequalities within the EU both for access to 5G services and for their quality, which would have the effect of widening the "digital divide" even further, underline the auditors. has not considered - for lack of available means according to Ms. Turtelboom, the health issues related to 5G.