The Moldovan government will spend approximately 130,000 lei on Chinese-made smartphones for soldiers in the National Army’s Communications and Cyber Defense Battalion. Authorities have launched two procurement procedures that include the acquisition of 30 mobile devices and a telephone exchange system with 50 landline phones.
The first procurement, valued at 130,000 lei, covers the purchase of 30 “Armor” smartphones. A quick online search identifies these as rugged phones manufactured by the Chinese company Ulefone. According to technical specifications provided by the National Army, the phones should preferably be black, equipped with 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of internal storage, a 64 MP camera, and the ability to record 4K video.
The devices must also include features such as NFC, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, biometric authentication, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Additionally, each phone must come with a fast-charging power adapter.
The institution procured a telephone exchange system and 50 landline phones for over 145,000 lei. Military personnel have outlined specific requirements, including compatibility with the National Army’s existing communications infrastructure and the ability to connect digital equipment to the system.
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Despite the planned acquisition, concerns remain over the use of Chinese technology in public institutions due to security risks. In 2021, Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense warned citizens against using Chinese smartphones after discovering excessive data transfers to foreign servers.
Since 2022, Ukraine has banned several Chinese products manufactured by companies allegedly supporting the war. Meanwhile, in countries such as the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, Chinese telecommunications equipment faces partial or complete bans in public administration due to national security concerns.
In 2024, Romania’s Intelligence Service (SRI) publicly explained its use of Chinese technology after media reports linked the equipment to strategic sites, including the Deveselu military base, which hosts a NATO missile defense system.
Chinese tech firms, including smartphone and app developers, frequently face accusations of espionage and sharing user data with the Chinese government, raising questions about the implications of such acquisitions for Moldova’s national security.