White House Considers Broad Federal Intervention to Secure 5G Future

Trump administration officials have talked about inserting the federal government deep into the private sector to stiffen global competition against Chinese telecom giant Huawei. The ideas -- discussed intermittently with US tech giants, private-equity firms, and veteran telecom executives -- include prodding large US technology companies like Cisco to acquire European companies Ericsson or Nokia. In more than one case, the company wasn’t interested in buying into low-margin businesses. Policymakers have also discussed shoring up Ericsson and Nokia with tax breaks and export-bank financing, or supporting a private-equity group that would take one of the European equipment makers private. Other proposals would support “open” network technology that would make it easier for U.S. startups to develop new technology for 5G equipment. The ideas show how far the US is willing to go in its fight with China over who will supply the world with advanced technologies.