(Adds detail, background)
AMSTERDAM, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The Netherlands aims to rake in
at least 900 million euros ($992 million) from its first auction
of bandwidth for 5G networks, it said on Thursday, adding some
equipment suppliers could be banned from the new networks if
they raise security concerns.
European governments are grappling with how to treat Huawei
Technologies Co Ltd after the United States alleged the
Chinese telecoms supplier's equipment could be exploited by
Beijing for spying. Huawei strongly denies the allegations.
Dutch Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Mona Keijzer
said in a statement the government's first auction of the 700,
1400, and 2100Mhz airwave ranges would take place by June 30.
Auctions will proceed in rounds. The three major Dutch
telecom network operating companies KPN NV,
VodafoneZiggo, and T-Mobile are expected to participate, though
no company is precluded from participating.
"Critical components of the network may only be provided by
reliable vendors," Keijzer said.
"Exclusion of an unreliable vendor can occur if there is a
suspicion that it could misuse or disable the Netherlands'
telecommunications infrastructure, or if there are close ties to
foreign governments involved with spying."
The document did not discuss Huawei directly.
An auction of the 3.5Ghz range most commonly associated with
5G is being delayed as the Dutch government moves a ground
satellite system that would interfere with it to a new location.
The auction of that spectrum is expected in early 2022.
While the government's advice has been six months in the
making, it is similar to the stance taken by the country's
largest telecoms company, KPN, in April 2019.
KPN plans to use Huawei equipment for radio towers, which it
considers a "peripheral" part of the 5G network, but has said it
will use a "Western" supplier for core parts.
It has also said it could drop the use of Huawei kit if
required by law, and it plans to remove Huawei equipment from
the core of its earlier mobile networks over time.
The Dutch secret service AIVD in April warned the country
must not become dependent on equipment from countries that have
an "offensive cyberstrategy" and identified China as the largest
threat for industrial spying.
In October, opposition parties supported a motion that would
preclude Huawei from participating in the Dutch 5G network, but
the governing coalition voted that down, finding it unwise to
single out one company or one country.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Edmund Blair and Mark
Potter)