The European Court of Auditors launched an audit on Tuesday 8 December to assess whether the EU and its Member States are implementing secure 5G networks in a “timely and concerted manner”. The results will be made available in a year’s time.
The EU Action Plan called for 5G services to be launched in all Member States by the end of 2020. By October this year, 5G had been rolled out in 17 EU countries and the United Kingdom.
During their audit, the experts will examine the set-up of 5G networks in the EU, the support provided to the Member States by the European Commission, and the Member States’ implementation of 5G, including how they are taking security issues into consideration. They will focus in particular on network security, including cybersecurity and the security of the equipment used. However, they will not study any potential effects of 5G on human or animal health, or the environment.
The audit follows on from the Court of Auditor’s recent analytical review on the EU’s response to China’s state-driven investment strategy, which also highlighted concerns about the security of 5G networks (see EUROPE 12557/20).
It should be noted that the Court of Auditors are due to organise an online conference to be held on 7 January 2021 on the theme “Towards 5G: Securing Europe’s Digital Future?” (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)