Nokia, a key 5G provider, urges patience and flexibility in replacing Huawei equipment

The Finnish firm Nokia, one of a handful of alternatives to Huawei in the 5G equipment market, is urging the Federal Communications Commission to implement a reimbursement program and allow a reasonable transition before requiring mostly rural telecoms to “rip and replace” Huawei-made products from their systems.

The FCC recently closed a comment period on its order banning use of the Universal Service Fund to purchase equipment from Huawei and its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking examining whether the...