Reuters reveals Deutsche Telekom freezes 5G deals pending Huawei ban decision

Reuters exclusively reported that Deutsche Telekom has put all deals to buy 5G network equipment on hold as it awaits the resolution of a debate in Germany over whether to bar Chinese vendor Huawei on security grounds. Europe’s largest telco finds itself in a tight spot after senior lawmakers in Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition rebelled and called for a ban on Huawei, which is a key vendor for its existing mobile networks in Germany and Europe. The U.S. imposed an export ban on Huawei in May and called on allies to follow suit, alleging the global network market leader’s gear was insecure and that it was beholden to Beijing.