Canada has banned the use of Huawei and the equipment of joint Chinese technology giant ZTE in its 5G networks, its government announced. In a statement, it cited national security concerns for the movement, saying providers could be forced to comply with “foreign government’s extrajudicial directions” in ways that could “conflict with Canadian law or harm Canadian interests.”
Telekoks will be barred from acquiring new 4G or 5G equipment from the companies by September this year, and must remove all ZTE and Huawei branded 5G equipment from their networks by June 28, 2024. Equipment must also be removed from 4G networks of the networks. end of 2027. “The Government is committed to maximizing the social and economic benefits of 5G and access to telecommunications services in writing great, but not at the cost of security,” the Canadian government wrote in its statement.
The move makes Canada the newest member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance that has placed restrictions on the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment in its communications networks. U.S. telecoms companies are spending billions to remove and replace the equipment in their networks, while the United Kingdom has banned the use of Huawei’s equipment in 2020, and ordered its removal by 2027. Australia and New Zealand also restricted the use of its equipment for national security reasons.
At the heart of these concerns is China’s National Intelligence Act, which critics say could be used to persuade Chinese organizations and citizens to cooperate with state intelligence work. CBC News reports. The fear is that this could be used to force Chinese technology companies such as Huawei and ZTE to transmit sensitive information from foreign networks to the Chinese government.
Huawei disputes the claim and says it is based on “misreadOf Chinese law. “China will comprehensively and seriously evaluate this event and take all necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,” China’s Canadian embassy said in a statement in response to Canada’s ban.
It took Canada about three years to decide on the use of Huawei and ZTE equipment in its telecommunications networks. Bloomberg notes coincided with a deterioration in relations between it and China. In December 2018, Canada arrested Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on suspicion of violating U.S. sanctions. Days later, China imprisoned two Canadian nationals: former diplomat Michael Spavor and businessman Michael Kovrig. After the United States came to a deferral processing agreement with Meng that allowed her to return to China last year, the Canadians were released.
Opposition politicians have criticized the Canadian government’s delay. “In the years of delay, Canadian telecommunications companies have bought hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Huawei equipment, which will now have to be removed from their networks at a huge expense,” Conservative MP Raquel Dancho said in a statement. for the Toronto Sun.. But Bloomberg reports that similarities between the ECB and Telus have already put an end to the use of Huawei’s equipment for fear of a possible ban.