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Huawei’s full Central and Eastern European Post: Trends and Forecasts in English can be found here.
One of the authors of the publication is Vilnius University, Institute of International Relations and Political Sciences (VU TSPMI), associate professor dr. Konstantinas Andrijauskas writes that in Lithuania, as in other countries in the region, the perception of the Chinese threat is mainly related to the position of the United States on this issue.
15min photo / Konstantinas Andrijauskas
Also with accusations of spying on Huawei in Poland, because, according to the author, “a close partnership with both countries is considered extremely important for the security of Lithuania.”
K. Andrijauskas writes that although China or its companies were not openly mentioned in this context, Lithuania’s 2020 assessment of threats to national security indicates for the first time that the implementation of 5G technology, without paying attention to IT service and the reliability of the product supplier can become a new risk factor.
The Ministry of National Defense has previously stated that Chinese technology will not be included in sensitive military installations, the author notes.
“On the other hand, during 10 years of operation in Lithuania, Huawei has regularly tried to improve its image. The company carried out the first major campaign of a Chinese entity in the country, becoming an official sponsor of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation in 2014-2016.
In 2020, the federation announced a new agreement with Huawei. This time the company’s profile is even higher, as its name is included in the name of the Lithuanian Women’s Basketball League, ”writes K. Andrijauskas.
VIDEO: 15/15: A 5G connection shrouded in conspiracy theories is now enabled in Lithuania. Is it really worth the fear?
According to the author, Huawei’s attention to image and reputation is illustrated by the lawsuit won in court against one of the Lithuanian news portals: it had to officially deny the allegations about the company’s activities in Africa.
“Despite these efforts, Huawei’s main goal in the country has not been achieved,” Andrijauskas writes.
The author notes that in September 2020, Lithuania became the last of the Baltic states to sign a memorandum of understanding with the United States on 5G communications security.
K. Andrijauskas writes that China was not directly mentioned in the memorandum, but soon Telia, Lithuania’s largest telecommunications and information technology company, legally recognized as of strategic importance for the country’s national security, announced the initial stage of establish a 5G connection.
Telia has partnered with the Swedish company Ericsson, which will gradually replace Huawei’s equipment in the radio access network.
“Considering the results of the October 2020 parliamentary elections, it is difficult to imagine a significant change in the current Lithuanian policy on 5G connection in general and Huawei in particular, even if the new administration of Joe Biden will be more open about this. theme than its predecessor, “writes Andrijauskas. .
It notes that the new moderate right-wing coalition has promised a “foreign policy of value” that “actively opposes any violation of human rights and democratic freedoms and defends freedom fighters around the world, from Belarus to Taiwan. “.
“Therefore, before the next RF auction, all telecom providers in the country are expected to follow Telia’s lead, and thus finally pull Huawei out of the 5G local network development,” writes K. Andrijauskas.
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