Explaining de differences in European member states 5G policy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the presence or absence of Chinese telecom operators in European Union (EU) member states’ 5G networks. Although there was a common 5G toolbox by the European Commission, EU member states made different choices in this policy area. The research question therefore was: Which theory, neorealism, social constructivism or liberal intergovernmentalism, best explains the presence or absence of Chinese telecom operators in EU member states’ 5G networks? This study analyzes four EU member states (Austria, Germany, Ireland, and the Netherlands) between 2016 and June 2021. Case study and discourse analysis are performed to come to an answer. All three theories were able to explain the absence of Chinese telecom operators in the German and Dutch 5G networks, however, none of the theories were able to explain the presence of Chinese telecom operators in the Austrian and Irish 5G networks. Future research must focus on explaining this presence, for instance, by conducting interviews or broadening the cases to Eastern European member states.