Germany is considering banning components from Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE in its 5G networks from 2026, government sources told AFP on Wednesday.

Under the government’s proposals, Chinese components would be excluded from the “core network” from January 1, 2026, these sources said, adding that the ban would also apply to parts already installed.

However, this project, which is promoted by the Ministry of the Interior, must be agreed in the coalition government of Olaf Scholz. According to German media, not all ministers have yet reached an agreement.

In the proposal seen by AFP, the Interior Ministry cites the need to “reduce risks” to China, as outlined in Germany’s recent strategy against the Asian giant.

This policy specifically targets critical infrastructures, including telephone networks, to enhance security and reduce one-way dependency.

The government’s ongoing audit of telecommunications systems “has not been completed and discussions are ongoing with other ministries involved in this decision,” a Home Office spokesman said on Wednesday.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions, Germany has tightened its stance on China over the past year, trying to maintain a delicate balance between economic cooperation with its main trading partner and the protection of its strategic and security interests. (photo: Galina Sandalova / Dreamstime.com)