Trump wants 5G ‘and even 6G’ in US as soon as possible

President Trump on Thursday said in a pair of tweets that he wants the U.S. to beat other nations to rolling out next-generation wireless technology, known as 5G.

 

“I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind,” Trump wrote.

 

“There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on something that is so obviously the future,” he continued. “I want the United States to win through competition, not by blocking out currently more advanced technologies. We must always be the leader in everything we do, especially when it comes to the very exciting world of technology.” 

I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind. There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on………

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019

….something that is so obviously the future. I want the United States to win through competition, not by blocking out currently more advanced technologies. We must always be the leader in everything we do, especially when it comes to the very exciting world of technology!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 21, 2019

The president appears to be referring to an executive order that he had reportedly been expected to sign that would block Chinese telecom companies like Huawei from U.S. 5G networks, citing national security concerns.{mosads}

A White House spokeswoman did not immediately respond when asked if Trump was backing off the rumored executive order. The tweets came as U.S. and Chinese officials were beginning another round of trade talks in Washington.

Full 5G deployment is still years away, though wireless companies are already making big promises about what the technology will deliver. The new wireless networks, the industry says, will pave the way for advanced technologies like virtual reality and driverless cars while giving users increased mobile download speeds.

U.S. officials have warned that companies like Huawei could be compromised by Chinese intelligence and that allowing their hardware to be integrated into the nation’s communications infrastructure may give Beijing the ability to eavesdrop on U.S. citizens.

Trump’s tweets come after European allies had appeared to reject U.S. pressure to ban Huawei from their own 5G deployments.

British and German officials have suggested in recent days that their countries would not implement outright bans. Ciaran Martin, the CEO of the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre, said in a speech at a technology conference in Brussels this week that his country could manage whatever risk that Huawei posed.

“Our job is to make sure that the government can be confident that behind whatever decision it takes, there will be a technical framework that works and a competent national authority that knows what it is doing,” Martin said.

Updated at 10:20 a.m.