Huawei and Deutsche Telekom held advanced talks over 5G network deal: Sources

NEW DELHI: Deutsche Telekom was in advanced talks to retain China’s Huawei as its main supplier of radio equipment for new mobile networks before it put the negotiations on hold for political reasons, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The United States has urged its allies to freeze out the Chinese supplier over cybersecurity concerns. Washington has told allies that the company’s equipment could be used by China as spying tools, an allegation denied by Huawei and Beijing.

Deutsche Telekom, Europe’s largest telecoms operator, announced last week that it was not entering into 5G network equipment contracts as it awaited the resolution of a political debate in Berlin over whether to restrict Huawei’s access to the German market.