White House to invite Samsung Elec to its 5G summit in battle vs. Huawei

Samsung Electronics Co. expects an invite to the White House from the U.S. Donald Trump administration for a 5G summit to be held in April to blunt dominance of Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co. in the global 5G market.

Citing sources from the administration, U.S. media CNBC last Friday (local time) reported Washington would invite foreign companies based in allied nations including Finland’s Nokia, Sweden’s Ericsson and South Korea’s Samsung Electronics to ensure Huawei “does not become dominant in next generation communications technologies.”

Larry Kudlow, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, told reporters Friday that the While House is likely to host the summit. “We’re going to have a lot of them in the White House to have a discussion. I’m sure the president will join us in part,” he said. “That would include Samsung, that would include all of our guys.”

[Graphics by Song Ji-yoon]

The U.S. government blacklisted Huawei in May last year citing national security concerns and essentially banned the Chinese telco giant. It is also urging its allied countries not to allow Huawei equipment into their telecommunications network, but the U.K. approved Huawei for 5G networks on some conditions.

The upcoming 5G summit may have been aimed at boosting its efforts to sideline the Chinese firm in the global 5G market, according to sources. The U.S. attorney-general William Barr suggested earlier this month that the country and its allies should buy a controlling stake in Nokia and Ericsson to build a stronger cooperation to counter Huawei.

The U.S. federal prosecutors added new charges on Feb.13 against Huawei for racketeering and conspiracy to steal trade secrets from the U.S. companies. The Chinese firm was also accused of doing business in countries subject to U.S. sanctions including North Korea.

[ⓒ Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]