Tech giant Huawei banned from New Zealand’s 5G network over ‘significant’ security risks
- The move follows reports that the United States is urging allies to exclude the Chinese telecom from networks
New Zealand’s largest telecoms carrier Spark said on Wednesday that the country’s intelligence agency had barred it from using equipment provided by China’s Huawei Technologies in its 5G network as it posed “significant national security risks”.
The move, reportedly the first by the New Zealand government against the Chinese company over a super-fast mobile network roll-out planned in the Pacific island nation, follows reports that the United States is urging its allies to exclude the Chinese telecoms giant from all 5G roll-outs over cybersecurity fears.
Australia blocked the company from being involved in its own 5G network upgrade for the same reason.
Spark said in a statement that it was legally obliged to tell New Zealand’s intelligence agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) about its 5G plans.
It said GCSB chief Andrew Hampton had raised concerns about the use of Huawei’s Radio Access Network in the new network and declined the proposed roll-out.
“The director general has informed Spark today that he considers Spark’s proposal to use Huawei 5G equipment in Spark’s planned 5G RAN would, if implemented, raise significant national security risks,” Spark said.