Wireless Wars

China’s Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We’re Fighting Back

By: Jonathan Pelson

Narrated by: Chris Abell

Length: 8 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

As the world rolls out transformational 5G services, it has become increasingly clear that China may be able to disrupt - or even access - the wireless networks that carry our medical, financial, and even military communications.

This insider story from a telecommunications veteran uncovers how we got into this mess - and how to change the outcome.

In Wireless Wars: China’s Dangerous Domination of 5G and How We’re Fighting Back, author Jon Pelson explains how America invented cellular technology, taught China how to make the gear, and then handed them the market. Pelson shares never-before-told stories from the executives and scientists who built the industry and describes how China undercut and destroyed competing equipment makers, freeing themselves to export their nation’s network gear - and their surveillance state. He also reveals China’s successful program to purchase the support of the world’s leading political, business, and military figures in their effort to control rival nations’ networks.

What’s more, Pelson draws on his lifelong experience in the telecommunications industry and remarkable access to the sector’s leaders to reveal how innovative companies can take on the Chinese threat and work with counterintelligence and cybersecurity experts to prevent China from closing the trap. He offers unparalleled insights into how 5G impacts businesses, national security, and you. Finally, Wireless Wars proposes how America can use its own unique superpower to retake the lead from China.

This audiobook is about more than just 5G wireless services, which enable self-driving cars, advanced telemedicine, and transformational industrial capabilities. It’s about the dangers of placing our most sensitive information into the hands of foreign companies who answer to the Chinese Communist Party. And it’s about the technology giant that China is using to project its power around the world; Huawei, a global super-company that has surged from a local vendor to a $120 billion-a-year behemoth in just a few years.

For anyone curious about the hottest issue at the intersection of technology and geopolitics, Wireless Wars offers an immersive crash course and an unforgettable story.

©2021 Jonathan Pelson (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

True business book reads like a movie!

Great book to listen to or read. Reads like a movie but it is true! The book chronicles the wireless industry from early days to current. And the topic is very now timely.

Great listen.

Clear and informative. Alarming to hear what is going on with China in this industry. Highly recommend!

Eye opening and well written

The book for me was a great history lesson on the evolution of wireless networks, a clear case for how 5G differs, a factual overview of China's espionage ways of work and a decent compass to the way forward. It's narrated very well

This man is spot on!

I relate 5G to Wi-Fi 6 because of relatively modest bandwidth improvements , but wit the ability of both to handle many more simultaneous devices. Then the book got scary. I heard from a Chinese national who completed college here that face recognition person tracking was implemented, but hearing this authoritatively expounded in this book gave me chills. This is a must read! China is an evil empire that must be dealt with.

Tech wars are real wars

Gr8 coverage of the fading wireless players and the emerging Chinese infrastructure providers. I’m a veteran of those battles including living in China in mid-Os. Book is insightful and great read merging tech innovations, espionage and national policies. Exciting read too!

A story of global rivals, well told and well read

Tells how the US created a great technology and China stole it, leaving the free world compromised. Describes how the "Internet of Things" will rely on 5G, and China can use its reach to block, throttle or just spy on everyone's communications.
Not just for techies -- very easy to follow.

Informative but slightly biased & leaves out some aspects

The book was very informative but it seemed pretty set on pushing the message that “China is the enemy” without giving other perspectives or ways to cooperate/work with them in this new world. A good listen, just important to keep in mind multiple perspectives.

Prompted fear and despair, but ended with hope.

I’m a non-tech person, and this book gave me an understanding of the history of the 5G market, the cunning and foul play of China, the threat it poses to a free society, and ways the United States, and the West can win. Thank you for writing this book.

The enemy is clear and it is China.

Very detailed, maybe too much so for the average reader. Still, all tech based companies and employees need to read this book otherwise you could find yourself being an agent of Communist China and their global domination plans.

Scary stuff. Unfortunately, saw it coming!

Excellent book. Highly recommended! How is it that an everyday joe like me who reads a lot & has been a high level mechatronics technician for 40 years in various startups knew that giving technology to China was a BAD IDEA! Sending so much manufacturing to China - BAD IDEA! I'm afraid greed of CEO's, politicians & many others will destroy all our forefathers fought for. China is following their 100 year plan to take over the without ever firing a shot!
I applaud the writer for having the courage to write this book. More people need to wake up & see the big picture as you have so clearly & concisely spelled it out.