Credit: Dreamstime Network providers have asked for US$5.6 billion to cover the cost of replacing deployed wireless equipment made by Huawei and ZTE, whose gear has been banned from US-based carrier networks.

Congress had set aside $1.9 billion for the program, but a preliminary total of applications for reimbursement revealed a shortfall of $3.7 billion.

Cost of banning Chinese 5G gear soars to $5.6B Channel Asia comes via ChinaTechNews.com.