As Britain and Germany consider whether to ban Huawei, Austria has said it will collaborate with EU partners on a decision, according to Reuters.
The U.S. and Huawei have been engaged in a war over the company’s role in helping build out 5G networks around the world. The U.S. has already banned the Chinese telecommunications company as a result of allegations it provides a way for Beijing to spy on governments and corporations.
The U.S. has also engaged in a campaign to convince its allies of the danger of relying on Huawei, even threatening to ban intel sharing with countries that use the company. For its part, Huawei has denied the allegations, while network operators have lamented that any attempt to avoid Huawei equipment will add time and expense to 5G deployments.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz would not rule out using Huawei, but said the country would work with EU partners on a decision.
“We want to be technology-neutral and at the same time guarantee maximum safety,” Kurz said at a news conference in Vienna. “We are in close coordination with our European partners and also with the European Commission.”
