Technology forecasting

The ultimate goal of the Digital Transformation plan the government will put up for public consultation on Thursday is the overhaul of the entire state mechanism. This is a 340-page bill drafted by Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis and his Deputy Giorgos Georgantas, including some 450 projects to be implemented by 2025.

5G technology has been tested in the Slovenian seaside town of Koper as part of a larger European project funded by the European Commission. 

Telecom Slovenia has already installed the technical equipment at the port in the city, and the inspection of the network is planned to continue until the end of the summer.

There are no fifth-generation mobile communication networks (5G) operating in Bulgaria at this time, said Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rosen Zhelyazkov in a written answer to an MP's question.

Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis signed off on Thursday a regulatory text on the granting of rights of use for radio frequencies in the 700 MHz frequency band, paving the way for the establishment of 5G broadband networks in Greece.

Cyprus' telecoms authority said on Tuesday unknown arsonists have torched a second mobile telephone antenna despite government efforts to quell "groundless" fears that it's moving to install a 5G antenna network.

Chinese telecoms equipment maker Huawei on Wednesday welcomed the European Union's 5G guidelines that are likely to limit its business in Europe, but which fall short of a US call for a total ban.

"This non-biased and fact-based approach towards 5G security allows Europe to have a more secure and faster 5G network," Huawei said in a statement.

[Reuters]

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday he would make a decision on Huawei's role in 5G networks that would give consumers the benefits of the new technology without compromising national security.

EU countries can restrict or exclude high-risk 5G providers from core parts of their telecoms network infrastructure under new guidelines to be issued by the European Commission next week, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The Greek government is waiting for the European Commission to publish its report on the development of fifth-generation cell telephony (5G) networks before deciding on a provider, Digital Governance Minister Kyriakos Pierakakis said on Thursday.