Rogers executive calls for 5G ban on Huawei

TORONTO Huawei Technologies Co. poses too big of a threat to Canada and should be banned from its 5G network, according to the vice chairman of Rogers Communications Inc.

While Huawei is cheaper and sophisticated compared with other alternatives, its close relationship to the Chinese government is troubling, Philip Lind said. The company would be obliged to do the government’s bidding, he said.

“The idea of Huawei controlling, or potentially controlling our communication system in Canada is crazy,” Lind said in a TV interview with BNN Bloomberg.

“I don’t think they should be allowed to.”

The Canadian government is still mulling whether to ban Huawei from its 5G telecommunications system due to potential security challenges.

No deadline has been made on the ruling though its Five Eyes intelligence allies remain divided on the issue.

Canada, the U.K. and New Zealand are still deciding what to do about Huawei, while Australia has banned the firm from 5G. In the U.S., President Donald Trump is moving to restrict Huawei from doing business with American companies.

Huawei has repeatedly stated it’s an independent company and that its technologies are secure. Executives have invited doubting parties to inspect their network and codes.

Lind referred to the arrest of the firm’s chief financial officer in Vancouver, saying that the Chinese government’s deep interest in her release shows how close they are to the firm.

Analysts have predicted that a ban on Huawei from 5G core networks is likely, adding that it would pose little or no threat to existing carriers’ short-term spending plans.

Rogers has partnered with Ericsson AB on 5G instead.