GCSB bans Huawei 5G
Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has been blocked from providing 5G mobile equipment to Spark, because of ‘‘a significant network security risk’’.
A spokeswoman for the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) said the decision was its call. But the Minister responsible for the GCSB Andrew Little said he had been briefed and had accepted the assessment.
The GCSB yesterday rejected a proposal by Spark to use equipment from Huawei to build a 5G network.
The United States and Australian governments have long expressed concerns about the security implications of using telecommunications equipment from China, which Huawei argues has stemmed more from protectionism than a genuine fear of espionage.
Kiwi network operators had up to now appeared to have a relatively free hand to source equipment from Huawei, which is used extensively by Spark and 2degrees, and in the delivery of ultra-fast broadband.
But sources have indicated the Government was facing greater pressure to toe the line with its fellow members of the ‘‘Five Eyes’’ security alliance, which also includes the United Kingdom and Canada.
Little said Kiwis didn’t have to worry about all of the Huawei technology that was currently in use.
‘‘This is an assessment related specifically to the notification Spark made under the particular legislation. It doesn’t apply to any other technology that Spark is currently using,’’ he said.
Little said other ministers had also been briefed, when asked about possible diplomatic repercussions.
Spark notified the director-general of the GCSB, Andrew Hampton, of its planned approach to 5G, which it hopes to offer to customers by July 2020. It is understood the company was keen to know whether it could use Huawei as it prepares to negotiate its supply agreements.
Its plan involved deploying Huawei 5G equipment on its cellphone towers. Spark said it had been told by the GCSB yesterday that plan would raise ‘‘significant national security risks’’.
It is understood the advice – if it stands – would in practice ban Huawei from participating in the rollout of 5G technology in New Zealand, but there has been no suggestion that equipment already supplied by Huawei for other telecoms networks would need to be removed.
Huawei has been contacted for comment.
University of Canterbury Professor Anne-Marie Brady, who fears she has been targeted by the Chinese government for her research on its influence campaigns, said the GCSB’s decision was an ‘‘about-face’’.
‘‘From the information we have about Huawei, that’s the right decision,’’ she said.
A ‘‘fact sheet’’ provided by the GCSB stated the next step could be for Spark to explain how it could ‘‘prevent or mitigate’’ the identified risk.
Spark said it would review the reasoning behind the decision and consider what steps it could take.
Hampton confirmed the decision in a statement while not naming Huawei as the company whose equipment was the subject of its concerns.
‘‘From the information we have about Huawei, that’s the right decision.’’ Professor AnneMarie Brady