The Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union is fine-tuning its draft conclusions on the security of 5G networks. Unlike a previous version, the text places more emphasis on the potential of 5G. It also contains an explicit reference to the lawful interception of communications and the need to provide for "more than certification and standardisation".
This is what comes out of a comparison between a draft text dated 30 October and the latest version (dated 18 November), which will be presented for adoption to the ministers of telecommunications on 3 December (see EUROPE 12350/9). The conclusions are entitled 'The significance of 5G to the European economy and the need to mitigate the security risks linked to 5G'.
Thus, the draft conclusions emphasise the need to ensure the rapid deployment of 5G networks in line with demand and stress that 5G is a key asset for European competitiveness, sustainability and a major enabler for future digital services as well as a priority for the European Single Market. It calls on the public sector to lead by example by taking up 5G.
The new version also addresses the lawful interception of communications. Last summer, the European Counter-Terrorism Coordinator, Gilles de Kerchove, drew States’ attention to the difficulties posed by 5G networks (see EUROPE 12270/5). The new document therefore stresses "the need to address and mitigate potential challenges arising from the deployment of 5G networks and services to law enforcement, including e.g. lawful interception".
In addition, the text stresses that "while standardisation and certification may be able to address certain security challenges related to 5G networks, additional security measures are required to effectively mitigate the risks".
See draft conclusions: http://bit.ly/37n56yi (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)