The global race for 5G

Fight #1: The race to get 5G networks up and running, a three-way game among US, China, and South Korea. While the US may be technically first with 5G in a few places, China is spending significantly more and will likely be first with 5G en masse.

Fight #2: The competition over whose technology will power the networks. US security concerns about Chinese equipment have loomed large, and Huawei is one of the major suppliers. As it has in the past, the US won't allow Huawei to supply gear to major US telecom firms, favoring European players Ericsson and Nokia (as well as Korea's Samsung).  "I don't want the United States to win just so we can wave the flag saying we're number one," said Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. Past winners of network races have "reaped a disproportionate amount of the benefits for their citizens."