What's next for 5G in Southeast Asia?

Abstract

Given their development needs, Southeast Asian countries have adopted a nuanced and measured approach towards security concerns raised over the use of 5G telecom network equipment supplied by Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE. Nevertheless, this does not mean that the region lacks an awareness of the risks involved. Countries with an interest in the security of Southeast Asian telecom networks should look to provide support that accounts for development needs. One promising area could be in adoption of open radio access network (O-RAN) technology, although this is not without challenges.