Critical Update: The Hidden Threats of 5G

FrankHH/Shutterstock.com

Nextgov goes inside the technology that will underpin billions of interconnected devices. 

Fifth generation wireless technology, or 5G, is anticipated to usher in an entirely new age of wireless connectivity. Billions of devices—self-driving cars, service robots, smart devices inside homes, wearable technology and sensors on streets—will communicate and create massive troves of sensitive data.

Government and technological leaders working at the forefront of America’s 5G deployment efforts are excited about its potential but new concerns arise as well. Each new device will be an attack vector that adversaries could use to access entire networks. So far, America has yet to embrace a streamlined plan to secure the evolving infrastructure or purge susceptible hardware and devices that already exist in today’s systems.

Former Federal Communications Chairman Tom Wheeler, current FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, and former National Security Council Senior Director for Strategic Planning Robert Spalding, who also served as the U.S. defense attaché in Beijing, are all working to help ensure America preserves the leadership it previously established during the 4G network boom. Each shed light on the evolving threat landscape, how insiders are working to support a secure 5G deployment for all communities across America, and the national security issues that render a safe rollout increasingly challenging.

“We are talking about a world where we can’t leave folks behind,” Starks told Nextgov in the Critical Update interview. “We are talking about and are excited to talk about 5G, but there are a lot of folks that are still living in a no G world.”

On top of the critical need for fair 5G deployment, the officials also offer details about the controversy around Chinese telecommunications companies such as Huawei, which already supply foundational components of 5G infrastructure across the globe, often at much cheaper rates than competitors. In May, President Trump signed an executive order essentially prohibiting American companies from obtaining technology products from any entity deemed to be a national security threat. The move amplified an international debate about whether it’s safe to roll out foundational 5G hardware and technology if it’s made by a foreign company that may allow its government access.

Huawei fervently denies allegations that its practices pose any threat to American national security. Still, officials warn its 5G presence and China’s strategic initiatives could allow both to catastrophically impact our society.

“Because essentially China’s built [Chinese companies] this defensible fortress in China through which to grow and master 5G, meanwhile Huawei is going around building these 5G networks all around the world, so it makes it real easy for them to sort of move in and take over,” Spalding said. “It doesn’t make sense for the Chinese to attack us, you know, to run into us with self-driving cars, although they’ll have that capability. It’s much easier for them to just slowly suppress the ones they want to suppress.”

Securing 5G leadership will be a monumental effort for stakeholders across the government, industry and academic sectors. In that light, the three officials also detail the relentless work they’re embarking on to boost security across the nation’s current infrastructure and what they believe the government needs to do now to secure the imperative technological advantage that 5G will bring for all years to come.

“Networks have always been attack vectors—so why should we be surprised that the network of the 21st century is a new attack vector? We ought to respond accordingly,” Wheeler said. “I mean you have no choice, you must evolve.” 

Tune in to the full episode below, or download and subscribe to Critical Update in the App Store or Google Play.

Listen on Apple PodcastsListen on Google Play Music

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.