Italy’s minister for industry, Stefano Patuanelli, has called for Chinese telecoms company Huawei to be allowed to play a role in the development of the country’s 5G network.
“Huawei offers the best solutions at the best prices,” he said in an interview with La Stampa published on Sunday, according to Reuters. “One cannot fly the flag of the market with one hand and that of protectionism with the other.”
Patuanelli is a member of the anti-establishment 5Star Movement, one of the parties in Italy’s governing coalition. An Italian parliamentary committee earlier this week recommended for Huawei to be banned from the country’s 5G infrastructure over concerns that it would pose a national security risk and enable Beijing to eavesdrop.
The company has denied such allegations, saying it operates independently of the ruling party of China.
“We have passed legislation that guarantees national security. With the right defenses, the possibility of (Huawei’s) access is not up for debate,” Patuanelli said.