Standards for a Secure 5G Infrastructure

Key Points:

• There is an opportunity for governments and industry in North America to adopt common standards covering fifth-generation (5G) networks and Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices.
• To create a new 5G manufacturing ecosystem, participants in a North American Technology Trust need common interoperability standards.
• Developing a 5G technology road map will help to set priorities and identify gaps in standardization.
• 5G infrastructure should meet stringent security, health and safety standards. Governments and industry would benefit by jointly developing a “5G safety code” that sets the bar regarding security, health and safety requirements.

Acknowledgements

This overview is a contribution to a workshop focusing on the future of 5G in North America. The 5G Beyond Borders workshop, organized by the Wilson Center, the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), and Tecnológico de Monterrey, aimed to discuss how strategic cooperation at the North American level can directly shape the future of 5G and lay the groundwork for expanded North American competitiveness in a range of emerging technologies. One primary goal of the workshop was to help lay the foundations for a broader North American Technology Trust.