22:52 21 October 2020
Huawei chooses Budapest over Warsaw
Chinese telecommunications concern Huawei will launch its new research and development center in Budapest, the head of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. This is not Huawei's first investment in Hungary – the Chinese manufacturer of telecommunications equipment has invested nearly $1.5 billion in Hungary over the last decade and currently employs over 2,000 people.
The new research and development center is to carry out works related to the development of artificial intelligence and the expansion of distribution channels for the services provided.
As the website 300gospodarka.pl wrote in early September, the Polish authorities decided to intensify work on the amendment to the act on cybersecurity. Pursuant to these provisions, it will be possible to discriminate against telecommunications infrastructure providers who ‘pose a threat to the performance of obligations under agreements with allies and European countries’ or ‘pose an economic, counter-intelligence or terrorist threat to national security’.
It is important because originally Huawei intended to create a similar center in Poland, but, among others, as a result of American diplomatic efforts, such a scenario did not materialize. According to Washington, Huawei's equipment – especially the one based on the new 5G technology – can be used for intelligence purposes.
