U.S. Senate Committee Investigating 5G Supply Chain Security

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, who serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is convening a hearing to investigate 5G vendor security.

The hearing will investigate “the security and integrity of the telecommunications supply chain and efforts to secure networks from exploitation in the transition to 5G. The hearing will also examine the federal government’s role in mitigating risks to telecommunications equipment and services in the U.S. and abroad.”

The committee hearing comes amid growing concerns about 5G and the role the technology plays in national security. The U.S. has banned Huawei, and pressured allies to do the same, alleging the company poses an unacceptable security risk. U.S. officials accuse the telecoms company of having backdoors in its equipment that can be used by Beijing to spy on governments and companies.

According to the hearing agenda, the planned witnesses include:

• Mr. Steven Berry, President and Chief Executive Officer, Competitive Carriers Association
• Mr. Rick Corker, President of Customer Operations for the Americas, Nokia
• Mr. Jason Boswell, Head of Security, Network Product Solutions, North America, Ericsson
• Dr. James Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director of the Technology Policy Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies

The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2020 and will take place at the Russell Senate Office Building 253.