Tim Nicholas Rühlig, “The “Huawei Saga” in Europe Revisited: German Lessons for the Rollout of 6G”

Tim Nicholas Rühlig, “The “Huawei Saga” in Europe Revisited: German Lessons forthe Rollout of 6G”, Notes du Cerfa, No. 187, Ifri, June 2025.

Abstract: "This paper examines the evolving debate over Chinese telecommunications vendor Huawei’s role in Europe’s 5G infrastructure, focusing on Germany as a critical case study. While the European Union (EU) attempted to coordinate a collective response through its 5G Toolbox, member states diverged significantly in balancing political, economic, and technological considerations. Germany, despite its economic ties to China and status as Europe’s largest telecom market, only reached a tentative agreement in July 2024—one that appears largely symbolic. The paper argues that Germany’s compromise reflects persistent institutional divisions and a reluctance to decisively reduce reliance on Chinese technology, even in the face of geopolitical and security concerns. The analysis suggests that with 6G on the horizon, Europe must learn from its fragmented 5G response. A future 6G strategy should prioritize network diversity, enhanced encryption, and reduced dependency on high-risk suppliers to preserve European sovereignty and digital resilience. The paper concludes by urging a more unified and binding EU framework for managing the rollout of nextgeneration wireless infrastructure."