Huawei seeks clarification after NZ intelligence agency rejects 5G bid

WELLINGTON, (Reuters) - Huawei Technologies Co Ltd said it was seeking clarification from New Zealand after the country’s intelligence agency rejected the telecommunication industry’s first request to use the Chinese firm’s equipment in its planned 5G mobile network.

Huawei said it had not had formal contact with the Government Communication Security Bureau (GCSB), which has cited national security concerns in declining a proposal from telecoms operator Spark New Zealand to build its 5G network using Huawei equipment.

“Huawei is seeking an urgent meeting with the relevant ministers and officials to understand the government’s position and get clarification of the process from here,” Huawei’s New Zealand deputy managing director Andrew Bowater said in an emailed statement on Thursday.

He said New Zealand had not presented any evidence of wrongdoing and Huawei rejected the notion that it threatened local businesses “in any way”.

“Huawei would welcome the opportunity to actively address any concerns and work together to find a way forward,” Bowater said.

Western governments are increasingly wary of what they say is possible Chinese state involvement in fifthgeneration mobile and other communications networks. Huawei has insisted Beijing has no influence over the company.

Intelligence services minister Andrew Little has said that Spark - whose request was part of the country’s first 5G application - could work with the agency to mitigate risk. He declined to specify the concerns, citing classified information.