No. We must work through economic, political issues
As Canada’s minister of public safety, sharing responsibility for cyber security files, I would awaken every day (and some nights) with the challenge of fortifying the most important responsibility of any government: the safety and security of its citizens.
To that end, the issue of the safety of Huawei products has been a focus of mine for over a decade, predating my tenure as a director at one of Canada’s telecoms.
Canada has a world recognized capability of detecting, analyzing and mitigating cyber threats. France, Germany and Israel, for instance, none of which have banned Huawei, share similar capabilities.
Canada’s vigorous cyber security protocols, developed with the Canadian Security Establishment and other agencies in full co-operation with the industry, are recommended by security experts in the U.K. and around the globe as somewhat of a gold standard. As a matter of public policy, all telecom suppliers, (and certainly with the nature of the global supply chain) not just Huawei, should be subject to these stringent cyber security protocols.
The fact is, Huawei is the global leader in 5G wireless network R&D and manufacturing (with some suggesting a oneyear to 18-month lead over competitors) in over 120 countries. In Canada, Huawei employs over 1,000 Canadian engineers and technicians. In 2018, Huawei invested $180 million in Canada in R&D and is on track in 2019 for $200 million. That puts Huawei in the top 20 of corporate investors into Canada (and allowed Canadian engineers to contribute to 5G chip sets and software algorithms that will power cellular systems and cellphones.)
Huawei technologies have been safely engineered into the non-core areas of our wireless networks. These include the antenna sites called Radio Access Networks (RANs), which do not carry personal or national security data.
Banning these non-core devices would have significant economic and technology consequences, dragging us backward in the international race to implement 5G. A recent study by Bloomberg points out the nations that are already ahead in 5G will attain significant economic gains and export advantages.
Until recently, Canada was recognized by Ookla Speedtest as having attained second place among the world’s best networks in speed and coverage. As we wait for a decision on Huawei, we have slipped to third place and are likely to slip further. Banning Huawei would also imperil the progress in rural conductivity.
On the question “to ban or not to ban” we must work through economic and political issues. Some say “Ban Huawei” because of violations by others in China relating to patent and proprietary laws. However, patent theft also exists in hundreds of American and Canadian cases before courts in North America annually. We don’t ban U.S., Canadian or European companies because of that reality. Instead, we work to develop more effective legal and commercial remedies. Interestingly, the less than a handful of international companies that are developing 5G, also do significant R&D in China.
Others say “Ban Huawei” because of China’s human rights issues. I share these concerns. And I unhesitantly bring them up in China, as I did on a recent trip there, specifically citing the untenable plight of Canada’s “Two Michaels.”
In our global community, democratic nations like Canada have extensive relationships with over 80 non-democratic nations, which impose severe human rights restrictions. We do not ban businesses from those 80 countries.
As a matter of international law, it is a United Nations and WTO violation to ban a business simply because of its country origin. We hope for a resolution of this conflict, which has trapped Canada between two geopolitical giants, China and the U.S. President Donald Trump has admitted the detention of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou can be played by the U.S. in trade negotiations. Canada can ill afford any such game.
Other nations with savvy cyber security expertise, like ours, have seen past the trade war and approved the managed use of certain 5G Huawei infrastructure. The answer on Huawei is not a simple “yes” or “no.” It is how; how to safely use infrastructure from any global supply chains to power our future economy. Our citizens deserve no less.