South Africa’s Largest Mobile Telcos Brush Aside U.S. Concerns About Huawei 5G Equipment

NICOLAS ASFOURI / AFP

Three of South Africa’s largest mobile operators do not seem that concerned by U.S. efforts to discourage companies and countries around the world from using equipment made by the Chinese telecom giant Huawei. The companies, Vodacom, MTN, and Rain, all said they’re comfortable integrating Huawei networking equipment into their next-generation 5G voice and data services that are now starting to hit the market.

Last week, the United States introduced a new effort to provide state-backed financing to telecom companies around the world to entice them away from Chinese-made technology. But based on the feedback from these telcos it doesn’t appear that the new U.S. program will be that popular in South Africa.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
4 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths

You Might Like

African Countries Want to Keep Their Options Open Regarding Huawei, Maintaining a Position of “Deliberate Ambiguity”

A new map of the world produced by one of Washington’s leading China analysts, Scott Kennedy from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, breaks down the world according to ...

One of Africa’s Largest Telecom Operators Sends Clear Message to the U.S. About Huawei: We’re Going to Use Them for 5G, Now Leave Us Alone

Michael Joseph, the acting CEO of Kenya’s Safaricom, one of Africa’s largest mobile operators, really could not have been more clear about his company decision as to whether or not it plans to ...

Kenya Says Companies, Not the Government Decides Whether to Use Huawei 5G Tech

Kenyan ICT Minister Joe Mucheru said it’s up to telecom operator Safaricom, not the government, to decide whether or not to use Huawei equipment. Mucheru once again asserted his country’s sovereignty in the decision ...

The U.S. Has Long Complained About Huawei’s Rise But Never Found a Way to Effectively Challenge the Chinese Tech Company. One DC Think Tank Has a Few Suggestions

The United States government is determined to try and hamper the Chinese tech giant Huawei’s efforts to become the dominant player in next-generation 5G mobile connectivity, AI, and other technologies. In May, Washington ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP