Senate hearing explores need for national 5G strategy

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing last week focusing on the secure rollout of 5G networks, supply chain risks associated with 5G equipment, and the need for a national 5G strategy.

5G is the industry term that refers to the latest evolution in mobile wireless networks. However, the security risks associated with advances in mobile technology have grown exponentially as the technology has become more complex, and suppliers are increasingly located outside the United States.

“5G deployment is not just an economic development issue or a cybersecurity issue – it’s an equality issue,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE), senior Democrat on the committee, said at the hearing. “Internet is sparse in many parts of the country, especially in rural communities. Many Americans, including those in Delaware, do not have basic access to internet, such as WiFi or 4G.”

Carper noted that many small and rural communities do not have access to the Internet.

“Several months ago, I visited Delmar Public Library, a newly built library in a rural part of Sussex County. During my visit, the librarian shared how the library serves as a space for families to access the internet. In the rural parts of Delaware, people drive to spaces like Delmar Public Library, fire stations, and shopping centers for access to internet and, in some cases, so students can complete their homework with a reliable network connection. As our nation’s economy, workplaces, and schools become more digitized, we must figure out a way to ensure that a national strategy for 5G maximizes security and leaves no community behind,” Carper said.

Several U.S. cybersecurity and national security officials also testified at the hearing, which was called Supply Chain Security, Global Competitiveness, and 5G.