Ana Figueiredo was answering a question about the removal of the Chinese company Huawei from the 'core' of the 5G network in Portugal, during the State of Communications debate, at the 33rd APDC Congress, which ends today in Lisbon.

"Regarding the subject of suppliers or 'high risk vendors', it is obvious that the fact that we reduce or restrict a set of suppliers called 'high risk vendors' diminishes our options to make decisions and choose manufacturers", said the manager.

Furthermore, because "there are not many manufacturers because, yes, there has been consolidation here".

"We are also concerned about the 'timing' of the decision in this type of subject", which is made "retrospectively, that is, when we have all been here for 16 or 18 months after the implementation and 'rollout' [development] of the infrastructures based on the 'toolbox' [tool] that each European country has interpreted in its own way, it does not create stability, it does not create predictability for the promotion of investment", highlighted Ana Figueiredo.

The CEO said today that Altice Portugal is "very concerned about the security" of its infrastructures.

"We have a policy of supplier diversification, now obviously we will comply with and abide by the decisions that are made", she concluded.

About who will pay for the replacement of the networks, Ana Figueiredo said that this is "another component", in which, up until now, private investment has been supporting this cost.

The replacement period must be "compatible with feasibility from an operational point of view and that is reasonable", she concluded.

In May 2023, the Security Assessment Commission (CAS), within the scope of the Higher Council for Cybersecurity, released a decision about the "high risk" for the security of 5G networks and services of the use of equipment from suppliers that, among other criteria, are from outside the EU, NATO or OECD and that "the legal system of the country in which it is domiciled" or linked "allows the Government to exercise control, interference or pressure over its activities operating in third countries".

The decision does not mention the names of companies or countries, but the truth is that the case of Huawei comes to mind, namely because the Chinese technology company was banned from 5G networks in other European countries.

Read also: 5G. Deliberação de retirada da Huawei foi "muito além" da prática (Portuguese version)