Singapore’s biggest wireless network operators (telcos) have selected Nokia and Ericsson over Huawei Technologies to build the main fifth-generation (5G) networks in the city-state.

The selection comes amid tension between Singapore’s biggest trading partners, the United States and China, with the United States encouraging allies to exclude China’s Huawei from their networks on security grounds.

Singapore has allowed telcos to choose their network vendors provided they meet various requirements, including security.

A joint venture between M1 and StarHub awarded one of the city-state’s 5G licences said it had selected Nokia to build its radio access network and that the Finnish company was its preferred supplier for the core and mmWave networks.

The venture said it was also exploring other network parts with Huawei and China’s ZTE.

In a separate statement, 5G licensee Singapore Telecommunications said it had selected Sweden’s Ericsson to negotiate the provision of ran, core and mmWave networks. Singapore “did not exclude any vendor” and had spelled out its expectations for 5G networks, with an emphasis on security, resilience and performance, S. Iswaran, minister for communications and information, said on Wednesday.

The telecoms regulator said it gave telcos the final 5G licences after they completed required processes, including the selection of preferred frequency spectrum lots and vendor partners.

Reuters