Recent media reports have shown a growing number of attacks on 5G base stations across Europe. The attacks are being linked to a popular conspiracy theory according to which the current coronavirus pandemic is caused by the rollout and usage of 5G infrastructure. However, the global debate on 5G gained currency already in 2018 and has been centered on the cybersecurity concerns related to the usage of 5G equipment produced by Chinese vendors. In 2019 these concerns dominated the 5G conversation in the European Union. As companies and governments increasingly move online to keep running, the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to an accelerated 5G deployment in Europe.
KBN Analysis no. 7 (59) 2020
17 April 2020
Recent media reports have shown a growing number of attacks on 5G base stations across Europe. The attacks are being linked to a popular conspiracy theory according to which the current coronavirus pandemic is caused by the rollout and usage of 5G infrastructure. However, the global debate on 5G gained currency already in 2018 and has been centered on the cybersecurity concerns related to the usage of 5G equipment produced by Chinese vendors. In 2019 these concerns dominated the 5G conversation in the European Union. As companies and governments increasingly move online to keep running, the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to an accelerated 5G deployment in Europe.
Photo credit: Euractiv, https://www.euractiv.pl/section/gospodarka/news/szwajcaria-wstrzymuje-wdrazanie-sieci-5g/