Taking a strategic view of telecom networks in the Indo-Pacific
Telecom tower. Image: Rawpixel
This paper talks about why it’s imperative for the Quad partners to work together on countering Chinese telecom companies’ dominance and secure Indo-Pacific telecom networks.
Key points
- 5G (fifth-generation) represents a generational shift in wireless telecommunications, but it is not cheap, and developing economies have faced budgetary constraints in deploying it.
- Chinese telecom companies have stepped in to offer 5G technology at cheaper rates than their western competitors and captured new markets. Their market dominance not only creates cybersecurity and surveillance risks, but also enables Beijing to create new standards and shape digital economy narratives.
- These dynamics create an imperative for Quad partners to work together on countering Chinese telecom companies’ dominance and secure Indo-Pacific telecom networks.
Policy recommendations
- Leverage the Quad’s financial heft, innovation, and talent to push for cost-effective, secure, and trusted hardware; endorse “The Prague Proposals” for 5G networks.
- Promote the Quad’s technology ecosystem to speak to each other and other like-minded partners.
- Expedite research efforts, commercialise and secure the Open-Radio Access Network (O-RAN), which is also important for 6G.
- Establish a regional consultative mechanism for developing new standards at the International Telecom Union; harmonise existing standards.
About the series
This paper has been written for the Quad Tech Network Dialogue, as part of the Quad Tech Network (QTN) initiative. QTN is an initiative of the NSC, delivered with support from the Australian Government. It aims to establish and deepen academic and official networks linking the Quad nations – Australia, India, Japan, and the United States – in relation to the most pressing technology issues affecting the future security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific.
