China is 'blackmailing' India into using Huawei for its 5G infrastructure, says US Congressman Jim Banks

According to US Congressman Jim Banks, China is "blackmailing" India into using Huawei for its 5G infrastructure. A few weeks ago, Huawei urged India to make an "informed and independent decision" on permitting its 5G trials in the country amid ban in the US.

The US has already banned Huawei over concerns of national security and now asking other countries including India to restrict Huawei's entry into India's 5G infrastructure.

On-paper, 5G technology is said to achieve download speeds that are 10 to 100 times faster than current 4G LTE networks.

"China is now blackmailing India into using Huawei for its 5G infrastructure. They know no bounds!" Congressman Jim Banks said. 

READ | 5G trials in India: Huawei urges India to make an "informed and independent decision" amid US ban

Senator Marsha Blackburn alleged that China, along with Huawei, is looking to push its spy embedded technology onto America and its allies. 

"We need to draw a hard line to protect our national security interests and intellectual property," Blackburn said.

Meanwhile, India plans to develop its own 5G network. Previously, telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that India is gearing up for 5G trials across the country will hold a mega spectrum auction for 5G and other radio waves this year.

READ | Field trials of 5G to begin in India soon

A lot of smartphone companies these days have been launching 5G devices in the global market and India clearly wants to adopt future telecom network technologies at the earliest and strengthen its 5G infrastructure.

Huawei's first 5G smartphone - Huawei Mate 20 X - is up for pre-orders on China's Vmall. The actual sale will begin on August 16.

last month, Lenovo launched its first commercial 5G smartphone - the Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G - at MWC Shanghai 2019. Lenovo Z6 Pro 5G is nothing but Lenovo's 5G-ready variant of the original Z6 Pro that was launched in China in April.

(With inputs from PTI)