5G: A Race for Hyperconnectivity or Chinese Dependence?
We see 5G as the next update of hyperconnectivity, the next step to fast data, or as MIT put it, a “technological paradigm shift, akin the shift from the typewriter to the computer”. The growing popularity of 5G raises the discussion of the costs of increased internet capacity, implications of which lie far beyond the scope of connectivity. As such, legislators must keep an eye open for the potential cybersecurity and public safety threats, ranging from Chinese dependence, data protection, health, and the environment.
But what is 5G?
5G represents tomorrow’s wireless cellular network and has taken a decade to develop. The fifth generation of wireless technology allows for faster connectivity and will be able to remove the latency of our existing networks. This will reduce the download time of a two-hour movie from a few minutes to mere seconds. The use of a low-band, higher frequency signal represents improved internet capacity and more reliable coverage. In other words, a true revolution for future means of communication.
The development of 5G also introduces the possibility of network slicing, which creates separate wireless networks for each Internet user, increasing capacity and Internet speed. Providers around the world are now racing to develop their own 5G networks. However, the challenge with fifth-generation networks is that such innovations are very costly and require infrastructure which exceeds the capacity of existing 4G structures. This means that operators might have to share the infrastructure in order to divide the costs. While this has not been an obstacle in China, it has proven to be a barrier to innovation in Western Europe and the United States.
Unparalleled Chinese growth: The challenge for Western competitors
China is a pioneer in the field of fifth-generation networks and a leader on the market. The country is currently transforming 5G into a commercial service by multiplying the construction of its base stations and preparing 5G plans to become widely available to consumers. On the global market, there is a lack of substantial Western competition to Huawei when it comes to building base stations. This has heavy economic and security implications, as it entails dependence on Chinese infrastructure or having to rely on more costly, less performant national production. China is currently working on the expansion of connectivity as part of its Belt and Road initiative, having signed multiple contracts, including in Europe, for the construction of 5G base stations. Beijing has even recently launched research into 6G networks.
According to Adam Segal, director of the digital and cyberspace policy program at the Council of Foreign Relations, “There will be a tendency to cast these developments as another sign that the United States is losing the race for the next generation of communication technologies.” Adding to the United States’ apparent decline as a global tech giant, South Korea also presents itself as an emerging actor on the 5G market. The country recently launched the country’s first 5G phone, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, and used the 2018 Winter Olympics to display its 5G performance and carry out connectivity trials. In March 2019, three major Korean telecoms, SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ launched their 5G networks together on what is known as “Korea 5G Day”.
So what exactly is at stake?
Cybersecurity threats are policymakers’ main concern when it comes to expanding fifth-generation networks. An increase in the number of connected objects (including watches, cars, and airplanes) represents increased exposure and hence a higher risk of a cyberattack. Operators and policymakers have raised the possibility of Chinese control over Western 5G markets through Huawei and ZTE. Huawei’s leadership and technology dominance on the global market does imply a certain degree of international reliance upon China for 5G networks. Yet Huawei is legally obliged to cooperate by providing data to the Chinese government intelligence, hence why policymakers are concerned. This threat was made clear at the peak of the 2019 Huawei espionage scandal, where the company handed foreign intellectual property to the Chinese government.
While countries such as the United States and Japan have officially prohibited the use of Huawei hardware, the European Union and Canada appear not to be as reluctant when engaging in partnerships with China. Cost-benefit analysis makes Huawei an extremely appealing partner for investment in fifth-generation infrastructure. Additionally, given the interdependence of countries for global connectivity, it could even be considered inefficient to ban Huawei or other foreign hardware, as this does not limit the use of foreign-operated softwares. It is still possible to be hacked by foreign actors even if the hardware used for the cellular network is nationally-produced.
What about the EU?
The European Union is seeking to empower its member states with new technologies and through the expansion of the Digital Single Market. In 2013, the European Commission launched a European Public-Private Partnership to foster 5G research and development on a regional scale. The EU subsequently signed a bilateral research agreement with China in 2015, highlighting the significant role of the Chinese market for private European enterprises. The recently appointed European Commission has made 5G part of its “A Europe fit for its digital age” priority, hence setting it as a key point of focus for 2019–2024, alongside the European Green Deal. The EU is, therefore, determined to not be left out of the global race for 5G, and is willing to move forward with Chinese cooperation by limiting, instead of banning, Huawei hardware. Given as telecommunications are not centralized at a European scale, it will be up to each member state to decide the extent to which it wishes to cooperate with China.
In the wake of recent increases in global data safety breaches, there is an urgent need for understanding how to securitize devices connected to 5G networks in the face of an increased possibility of cybersecurity threats and foreign surveillance. Additionally, the secondary effects of faster connectivity need to be considered by legislators before commercializing the next generation of cellular networks. In terms of environmental impact, evidence suggests that higher electromagnetic fields would have a negative impact on animals, besides from the increased risks of biodiversity destruction arising from new infrastructure. The health impacts of 5G radiation also require further research, in order to assess whether 5G would be more harmful than the already existing Wi-Fi and 4G radiations. These concerns were recently heard in Germany in April 2019 where a petition was raised to the Bundestag in order to cease 5G frequency auctions to national providers due to health concerns. Amid recent circulation of the concept of biohacking on the Internet (the use of technology and experimentation to enhance one’s body function), further investigation in the safety of wearable devices, such as implants, is also needed to ensure that consumers are protected from harm.
These issues beg the question of how legislators will deal with the fast-changing challenges of 5G, with implications ranging far beyond connectivity: cybersecurity, Chinese dependence, and health and environmental concerns, in a world racing towards hyperconnectivity.
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