The international body responsible for setting 5G standards has warned that the US move to blacklist Chinese telecoms group Huawei could have “a dramatic impact” on future standardisation, with analysts warning it could lead to a bifurcation in development of the next-generation wireless technology.
Adrian Scrase, who heads up the 3GPP’s permanent support team, said: “We cannot speculate on what will happen, but if the current situation prevails — this could have a dramatic impact on future standardisation.”
Analysts see several risks, including a fracturing of the global standard setting system and a return to a bifurcated market — much as China’s great firewall has created a “splinternet” of what was conceived of as borderless cyber space.