To counter China, White House memo suggests a nationalized 5G network

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The US government should consider building and operating a national 5G mobile network in order to boost security, reduce reliance on Chinese equipment, and to ensure that the US retains a technological advantage over other countries, according to a leaked memo from the White House's National Security Council (NSC).

The memo and a related slide deck, published yesterday by Axios, suggests that the Trump administration is considering a surprising shift from privately operated networks to nationalized infrastructure. The presentation carries the title, "Secure 5G: The Eisenhower National Highway System for the Information Age."

Industry lobby groups and all five members of the Federal Communications Commission have already criticized the suggestion, saying that the US should continue to rely on private industry and that carriers are already building 5G networks.

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