Huawei is no threat to Canada or Canadians

Asteady stream of news concerning Canada and China has dominated recent headlines. From trade relations to cybersecurity to arrests and extraditions, the reports have been unrelenting and invoke issues of far-reaching consequence. Huawei Canada has found itself at the very centre of all of this with, in particular, critical questions about our ongoing participation in the rollout of Canada’s 5G wireless networks.

This issue is of enormous importance to not just our company but to millions of Canadians who rely upon staying connected to highspeed internet for business and entertainment, whether at home, at work or on the move. Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that 5G will be the building block of future economic growth and innovation for Canada. The rollout of this new technology is that important. It is that fundamental.

In this context, a host of questions have been raised about Huawei — most of them by retired security officials who have made forceful and repeated charges against our company, our intentions, our integrity and our reliability. Many of these individuals were the same officials who argued unsuccessfully a decade ago to bar Huawei technologies in the rollout of 4G — raising similar concerns that, in the 10 years since, have proven to be unfounded. The accumulated weight of these interventions leaves the impression that such objections must be valid. But just because something is said repeatedly or emphatically, does not make it true.

For this reason, we want to offer a clear response to the three principal concerns that have been raised. These are important issues and they deserve to be addressed candidly, objectively and stripped of the hyperbole that has characterized so much of the debate so far.

First, it is argued that Huawei is effectively a stateowned enterprise that answers to Beijing. But that is simply not so. The reality is that Huawei is a private-sector

THE ROLLOUT OF THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY IS THAT IMPORTANT. IT IS THAT FUNDAMENTAL.

company that operates worldwide as a commercial entity — in the same way that any other large telecommunications company does. It receives no financing or subsidies from the Chinese government. Nor does the state have any ownership participation in Huawei. The shareholders, in fact, are the employees. Huawei is an independent global company operating like any other large multinational and we take our orders from our customers, not from the Chinese government.

Second, it is argued that the rollout of 5G is simply too sensitive to trust to Huawei Canada and that the technical complexity of this new technology makes it impossible to adequately safeguard or oversee. Again, these arguments are flatly false. First of all, these same unfounded fears were raised about the 4G rollout a decade ago. Not only were protocols, protections and oversight successfully put in place but in 10 years of operation, there has never been a single complaint, breach or concern raised with respect to the security and integrity of the networks Huawei Canada supports. In other words, these critics would like to reward 10 years of co-operation, innovation and spotless conduct with an outright ban — all on the basis of a threat that has been alleged, but never materialized.

In addition, Huawei has committed to investing to upgrade code, collaborate with government experts and officials and take whatever reasonable steps are deemed necessary to ensure strict protocols for 5G rollout. We’ve even proposed the involvement of third-party oversight and verification to lay to rest any doubt about our willingness to be transparent and accountable.

Finally, it is argued that Huawei Canada has an obligation under Chinese law to share information about foreign technology networks in a way that might be compromising. We would not, will not and cannot share such information. It would be unlawful, unethical and technically impossible. Huawei Canada operates in Canada and we adhere to Canadian law. Moreover, we collaborate with recognized telecommunications partners and answer to them as our customers. We have no access to personal consumer data and our networks’ security is developed in tandem with these partners. This assurance has been made crystal clear by our most senior company officials — both here and from our headquarters.

The government of Canada is currently conducting a thoughtful review of the facts surrounding the 5G rollout. Our commitment has been straightforward — we will do whatever it takes to provide decision-makers with the assurances they require. In 10 years, we’ve worked together to build the world’s best highspeed wireless networks right here in Canada. To reverse all that would set Canada’s wireless competitive advantage back years. It would be a terrible misstep.

Here in Canada we have a tremendous foundation to build upon. Let’s get to work on that build — with any combination of safeguards, assurances or standards deemed necessary to satisfy the legitimate concerns of government decision-makers.