⁍ Orange Belgium and Proximus have picked Nokia to help build 5G networks in Belgium.

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⁍ Moves are among the first by commercial operators in Europe to drop Huawei from next-generation networks.

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⁍ Comes after months of diplomatic pressure from Washington, which alleges Huawei equipment could be used by Beijing for spying.

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– Two of Belgium’s major mobile operators have decided to phase out the use of equipment from the Chinese tech firm Huawei amid concerns it could be used by the Chinese government for spying, reports Reuters. Orange Belgium and Proximus say they have chosen Nokia to build their 5G networks in the country, leaving only Liberty Group’s Telenet as the only mobile carrier in Belgium without a contract for 5G equipment. “Belgium has been 100% reliant on Chinese vendors for its radio networks—and people working at NATO and the EU were making mobile phone calls on these networks,” says John Strand, a Danish telecoms consultant. “The operators are sending a signal that it’s important to have access to safe networks.” The US, meanwhile, welcomed the moves. “This is the latest example of evaporating Huawei deals and further confirmation of this worldwide momentum towards trusted vendors,” says Keith Krach, the US undersecretary for economic growth, energy, and the environment. The US has been pressuring other countries to ban Huawei and other Chinese firms from supplying equipment for the next-generation mobile networks. (The US is considering a ban of its own.)