The Supreme Council of National Defense has concluded that Lenovo PC HK Limited and Lenovo Global Technology HK Limited do not pose a security threat. Romania has passed a law that limits access to 5G technologies to companies deemed unsafe or owned by foreign governments, Europa Liberă reports.

In its response, Free Europe CSAT also said that the two companies are owned by Lenovo Group Limited, “which is an intellectual property investment holding company operating as a limited liability company organized under the laws of Hong Kong.”

Last but not least, CSAT adds that the legal system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is based on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary under the principle of “one country, two systems”.

​China’s Lenovo Group, the world’s largest PC maker, last month received approval from the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) needed to sell its products on 5G networks in Romania. Prime Minister Marcel Cholaku signed the decision on the permit. And all this despite a law passed in 2021 following the 5G Memorandum signed with the US to limit possible security risks from Chinese IT manufacturers.

The Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) headed by President Klaus Iohannis on July 10, 2023 approved the requests for permission to use 5G infrastructure equipment submitted by the Chinese from Lenovo Global Technology HK Limited and Lenovo PC HK Limited.

Both opinions were reinforced by two decisions signed by PSD Prime Minister Marcel Čolaku on July 19, 2023, documents published in the Official Gazette, as G4Media.ro previously reported on Friday.

• HERE IS THE DECISION PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE

Lenovo does not manufacture 5G network equipment. What is the opinion rate of CSAT?

The approval given to Chinese group Lenovo came on the condition that from 2021 Romania has a law specifically designed to keep Chinese companies at bay because of strong suspicions that the Chinese communist state is involved in technological espionage.

Lenovo does not make 5G network equipment, but PCs (the world leader, according to IDC), laptops, tablets, phones, servers and storage devices.

The 5G Network Security Act, which was passed after the signing of the 5G Memorandum with the US, is mainly aimed at excluding the Chinese from Huawei, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of network equipment and 5G technology, from the networks of telecom operators. in Romania.

The Chinese manufacturer ZTE is also in the crosshairs.

Other major manufacturers of 5G equipment and technologies that have already received CSAT approval are Ericsson, Samsung and Nokia.

According to the law, equipment and applications of a 5G manufacturer that has not received CSAT approval can only be used in the core of telecommunications networks for 5 years, and the rest of the equipment for 7 years.

The license for manufacturers of 5G equipment and programs is granted by a decision of the Prime Minister based on the approval of the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT) within 4 months from the date of request.

Implications of Cholak’s decision: Law enforcement agencies can no longer prevent Lenovo from purchasing IT&C equipment

Even if Lenovo is not a manufacturer of equipment and technologies for 5G networks, the company still needs CSAT approval in order not to have any obstacles to sell its products on the Romanian market.

Government sources clarified to HotNews.ro that during the drafting of the 5G security law, Romanian law enforcement agencies such as SRI, SIE, MAi or MApN requested that there be an article that would allow them to exclude certain companies in the absence of CSAT notification of IT&C acquisitions the equipment they use in their own communication networks.

This is in an environment where cyber security threats can also come from products such as chips or servers used in communication networks. Photo source: Dreamstime.com