Italy blocks Fastweb from signing 5G network deal with Huawei

Italy has prevented telecoms group Fastweb from signing a deal with Huawei Technologies to supply equipment for its 5G core network, Reuters reported.
Huawei Harmony OS
The decision, made at a cabinet meeting in Rome late on Thursday, marks the first time Italy has vetoed a supply deal over 5G core networks with Huawei.

Visiting Italy in September, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described Chinese mobile telecoms technology as a threat to Italy’s national security.

Huawei rejects the charges, and its Italian unit said it was ready to undergo any scrutiny to show that its technology was safe.

at Thursday’s meeting, the government used its special vetting powers to block Fastweb, the Italian unit of Swisscom, from implementing a supply deal with the firm in the most sensitive part of its fifth generation mobile network.

Fastweb picked Huawei as the sole supplier for its 5G core network. Huawei and Fastweb both declined to comment.

A source from the Prime Minister’s office said Rome also wants to evaluate whether Huawei can play a role in 5G core networks.

While some U.S. allies, such as Britain, have announced bans on Huawei equipment in future telecoms infrastructure, Italy has so far declined to do so.

However, government and industry sources say Rome is de facto adopting a more marked pro-U.S. line on 5G deals.

Measures imposed by the government on firms using Huawei equipment on their 5G network include restrictions on remote interventions to fix technical glitches and an extremely high security threshold.

Italy’s biggest phone group Telecom Italia (TIM) in July left Huawei out of an invitation to tender for a contract to supply 5G equipment for its core network, where sensitive data are processed.

Telecom companies operating in Italy have introduced get-out clauses in 5G deals with Huawei, allowing them to withdraw should Rome ask for costly requirements in exchange for its green light.