Nokia wins 5G contracts in Belgium

Telecommunication carriers, Orange and Proximus, selected Nokia to help build 5G networks in Belgium, dropping Huawei amidst the pressure from the USA to exclude Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE from supplying key telecoms equipment. Reuters reported that Orange and Proximus are among the first commercial operators in Europe to ditch Huawei from 5G networks after months of pressure from the USA, which alleges Huawei equipment could be used for espionage by China. Huawei said it accepted the decisions by Orange and Proximus, noting that it is the outcome of a tender organised by operators and the result of the free market. Liberty Group’s Telenet is the only mobile carrier in Belgium that has yet to pick which supplier it will use for its 5G network. Telenet currency relies on equipment manufactured by China’s ZTE and plans to announce its 5G decision in the first half of 2021.