Despite growing concerns about Chinese manufacturers' involvement in critical infrastructure, Germany relies on Huawei even more than its 4G network for 5G radio access network equipment (RAN), according to a new survey report.

The survey from Strand Consult, a Copenhagen-based telecommunications consulting firm in Denmark, involved 102 mobile network operators in 31 European countries to understand the share of Chinese and non-Chinese suppliers in their 5G networks, and is part of a series of reports on "cybersecurity and China," according to the Global Times.

According to the survey results, in 8 out of 31 countries, more than 50% of 5G radio access network equipment comes from Chinese manufacturers. Among them, 100% of 5G radio access network equipment in one country comes from Chinese manufacturers. Overall, 41% of mobile users in Europe have access to 5G equipment from Chinese providers. In 2020, 51% of European mobile subscribers were connected to 4G equipment from Chinese manufacturers.

In particular, the report points to the continued dependence of Germany, Europe's largest economy, on China. According to the report, in 2022, Huawei accounted for 59% of 5G radio access network equipment in Germany, and in 2020, Huawei accounted for 57% of this equipment in 4G networks. Even Huawei's market share in Germany is higher than its share in China, because it also faces competition with ZTE and other manufacturers in China.

However, some telecom operators no longer use equipment from Chinese suppliers. Many Nordic and Eastern European countries, especially Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia, among others, barely use 5G equipment from Chinese suppliers.

Huawei has repeatedly denied that its equipment poses security risks and accused Washington of wanting to protect U.S. companies that cannot compete with Chinese technology and prices.