New Zealand prohibits Huawei 5G equipment because of fears of "national security"

NEW ZEALAND has become the last country to prevent Huawei from providing equipment for its 5G phone network in a context of "national security concerns"

Spark, the country's largest telecommunications company, said on Wednesday that government officials had warned that the use of 5G equipment by Chinese company Huawei "would increase risks for national security if it was implemented. "

"While we are disappointed with this decision, we are confident that this decision will not affect our intention to launch the Spark 5G Network by 1 July 2020, provided that the New Zealand provides the necessary spectrum, "Spark said in a statement. .

Andrew Hampton, chief executive of the New Zealand Government's Communications Security Authority (GCSB), confirmed his decision in a statement: "I informed Spark that a significant risk to the security of the network had been identified, "said Andrew Hampton, General Manager of GCSB. .

In response to this latest move, which comes just months after Australia banned Huawei from supplying the 5G kit, the Chinese firm said it was "looking into the matter".

"As noted by the GCSB, it is an ongoing process," the company said in a statement. "We will actively respond to all your concerns and work together to find a solution."

Last week, the WSJ announced that the US government was pressuring its foreign allies to abandon the network equipment of the Chinese company Huawei.

As part of an "extraordinary awareness campaign", US officials have reportedly contacted European and Asian countries where Huawei equipment is already in use, warning them of the "national security risks" posed by the threat. Chinese company.

In addition to alarmist statements about cybersecurity risks, the WSJAccording to sources, Washington has considered increasing the financial badistance for developing telecommunications in countries fleeing equipment manufactured in China.

It is also a question of subsidizing the purchase and maintenance of non-Chinese equipment by its allies, the report adds, pointing out that one of the main concerns of the government concerns the use of equipment. Chinese telecommunications equipment in countries hosting US military bases, such as Italy, Japan and Japan. Germany; the latter has already considered banning Huawei's 5G equipment. μ