Chinese firms’ involvement in 5G network may deter investors, EU warns Vietnam

HANOI: The involvement of Chinese vendors in the rollout of Vietnam’s 5G network may deter foreign companies from investing in the Southeast Asian nation, a top EU official said on Tuesday.

European telecom ‌firms Ericsson ⁠and Nokia are ⁠developing Vietnam’s core 5G network, but in recent months Vietnamese state-owned operators have awarded 5G contracts to Chinese rivals Huawei and ZTE.

That marks a notable shift following years of caution towards China, and the change has sparked concerns among Western officials.