Huawei has announced that it will build a $217 million plant in France that will supply the entire European market with 5G. When completed, the plant will be the first of its kind in Europe. This move comes as the United States has been persuading its allies to block the Chinese telecoms giant over accusations that Beijing could use the technology for espionage. Huawei’s chairman, Liang Hua, rejected claims that Huawei poses a security risk and estimated that the project would provide an investment of €200 million in addition to creating 500 jobs.
Huawei, the world’s largest producer of telecoms equipment, has allowed China to become the current world leader in 5G technology. 5G offers a huge leap in the speed and capacity of communications. This next-generation capacity will be essential for the future of integrated devices. As 5G technology is in high demand, Europe has become a major battleground between the US and China. In January 2020, the United Kingdom agreed to allow Huawei to help build Britain’s next generation of wireless infrastructure. Overall, China is investing more and more in Europe, raising concerns both inside and outside of Europe regarding Beijing’s true intentions.
