Huawei chairman: Trump is right that ‘US is lagging behind’ on 5G

by Michael Burke - 02/24/19 12:31 PM ET

The chairman of Chinese telecom giant Huawei reportedly said on Sunday that President Trump is right to say that the U.S. is “lagging behind” in the race to roll out next-generation wireless technology known as 5G.

Guo Ping said during a roundtable in Barcelona that he noticed a tweet from Trump last week in which the president wrote that there is “no reason that we should be lagging behind,” according to The Telegraph.

{mosads}“The U.S. is lagging behind,” Guo said. “His message is clear and correct.”

Huawei on Sunday also unveiled its new phone, the Mate X, which is 5G capable, according to CNN.

Trump wrote last week on Twitter that he wants the U.S. to roll out 5G faster than other nations.

“I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind,” Trump said.

“There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on something that is so obviously the future,” he added. “I want the United States to win through competition, not by blocking out currently more advanced technologies. We must always be the leader in everything we do, especially when it comes to the very exciting world of technology.”

Trump has been said to be considering an executive order that would ban U.S. companies from using Huawei’s technology over cybersecurity concerns. The Trump administration has already banned government use of Huawei products.

The tech firm’s chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was arrested late last year by Canadian authorities at the request of the U.S.

Meng, who is the daughter of the company’s founder, has been accused of violating trade sanctions against Iran.

She has been released on bail and faces extradition to the U.S.

Tags Donald Trump