Huawei Takes Legal Action in Portugal Against Ban on 5G Equipment

Chinese technology giant Huawei has filed a lawsuit in a Lisbon court against a resolution by Portugal's cybersecurity council CSSC, which effectively prohibits operators from using Huawei's equipment in high-speed 5G mobile networks.

Credits: REUTERS

The CSSC's resolution, although not explicitly naming Huawei, is seen as a setback for the company's ambitions to enter standalone networks in the Portuguese 5G market and extend existing contracts on 4G platforms.

Huawei's lawsuit seeks to protect its legitimate interests and legal rights as a company established in Portugal. The company hopes that the court will address the multiple violations of its rights and the significant negative impact on both Huawei and its partners resulting from the resolution.

The CSSC's resolution was based on an independent security assessment following European Union guidelines. It highlighted the potential security risks associated with suppliers or providers headquartered in countries where the government exercises control or interference in their activities in third countries. The resolution also emphasised the risks when the country is not a member of the EU, NATO, or OECD.

Portugal's major operators, Altice, NOS and Vodafone, have already stated that they will not use Huawei's equipment in their 5G core networks. The CSSC has stated that it has not been notified of any legal action and that the operators are developing their implementation plans in line with the resolution to mitigate threats and risks.

Huawei's legal action in Portugal reflects its determination to challenge the ban on supplying 5G equipment. The company continues to deny any compromise to security and rejects concerns raised by Europe and the U.S. regarding Chinese involvement in critical infrastructure.

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• Huawei files a lawsuit against Portugal's cybersecurity council CSSC over the ban on using its equipment in 5G networks.

• The lawsuit aims to protect Huawei's legitimate interests and legal rights in Portugal.

• The CSSC's resolution was based on an independent security assessment and highlighted potential risks associated with suppliers headquartered in certain countries.

Source: REUTERS