Fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks herald a real social and economic revolution. The introduction and integration of digital capabilities into the fabric of daily life has created new opportunities and novelties, but their transformative potential will only be realized with 5G, the speed and capacity of which will enable entirely new and mind-bending possibilities. That transformation and the absolute need to ensure infrastructure at the heart of the 5G revolution is safe is the core concern about Huawei Technologies, the Chinese telecommunications giant. There are good reasons to worry about Huawei, but those worries can be addressed.
Huawei was formed 31 years ago by Ren Zhengfei, a former People's Liberation Army officer. From modest beginnings, the company has become the world's largest telecommunications provider and the second-largest vendor of smartphones. Its revenues exceed $92 billion, it employs 180,000 employees in 170 countries and spends an estimated $15 billion on research and development annually. It is the flagship of the Chinese economic model, "too big to fail," and the embodiment of national pride and initiative.
Ren's military background in combination with Chinese President Xi Jinping's determination to make China the leading country in critical technologies, to promote self-reliance, and the integration of the civilian and military economic sectors, have sparked concerns around the world that Huawei is a stalking horse for Chinese national interests and that acquisition of its equipment exposes users to security risks.