In 5G race, European Union told to step up pace with competitors

As the United States grapples with the fifth generation (5G) technology standard of wireless communications rollout affecting airlines, a European Union watchdog has warned the EU faces much bigger economic and security threats unless member countries step up cooperation.

The alarm bells are included in a special report on the 27-nation bloc's preparations for 5G, AP reported on Jan. 24.
The study by the European Court of Auditors has a two-pronged clarion call, saying Europe is falling behind North America and Asia in the rollout of 5G networks and the EU needs to beef up its strategy to counter accompanying national-security risks.

"There are considerable delays in the member states' deployment of 5G networks and further efforts are necessary to address security issues in 5G deployment," the Luxembourg-based ECA said in its 69-page evaluation.
The world is rushing to install 5G infrastructure as a result of its higher data capacity and transmission speeds, which promise to transform everything from car driving and livestock farming to sports broadcasting and goods manufacturing.
In this race with high economic stakes, EU nations are moving too slowly because of a failure to do things such as assign radio spectrum for 5G services, according to the ECA.

It said a majority of the bloc's member states is set to miss a common rollout target fixed for 2025, when they are supposed to ensure uninterrupted 5G coverage in urban areas and along main transport routes.
By mid-decade, just 35 percent of all mobile connections in Europe will be based on 5G compared with 51 percent in North America and 53 percent in Australia, Japan, Singapore and South Korea, according to a telecommunications industry study cited by the ECA. The projected...

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