GCSB forbids Spark to use Huawei hardware for its 5G mobile upgrade

Spark said the GCSB's general manager, Andrew Hampton, had let him know that he could not use Huawei's equipment for the ongoing upgrade of the 5G mobile network.

The decision represents a radical change in direction. For years, while he was in power, former Prime Minister and GCSB Minister, John Key, was actively encouraging our telephone companies to use equipment manufactured by the Chinese company.

Under the 2013 Telecommunications (Interception and Security Capability) or TICSA Act, technology used by Spark, Chorus, Vodafone, 2degrees and other network operators for upgrades to be verified and approve by the security agency.

The CEO said today in Spark that he felt that Spark's proposal to use Huawei 5G equipment in the RAN 5G planned by Spark would greatly increase the risks to national security , said the telephone company.

"Under TICSA, this means that Spark can not implement its proposal to use Huawei RAN equipment in its planned 5G network," said Spark.

The apparent gesture of the GCSB comes after the announcement Friday that the US was pressuring its allies to give up Huawei.

While Americans have long suspected Huawei – it is earlier than President Trump -, previous efforts were aimed primarily at preventing Chinese society from entering the United States. Now he is widening his lines of battle.

US officials would worry about the possibility that Chinese telecom equipment manufacturers are spying on or off their connections with an exponentially growing universe, including components of manufacturing facilities.

The Wall Street Journal Cited an unnamed US official who said, "5G networks have additional complexities that make them more vulnerable to cyber attacks."

Spark says that he has not yet had the time to review the decision in detail.

"While we are disappointed with this decision, we are confident that this decision will not affect our intention to launch Spark's 5G network by July 1, 2020, subject to availability." of the spectrum needed by the New Zealand government, "Spark said.

GCSB General Manager, Mr. Hampton, said, "I can confirm that the GCSB, under the responsibility of TICSA, has recently undertaken to evaluate a notification from Spark. a significant risk to network security was identified. "

Hampton says that he will not make any other comments at this point.

At Spark's annual general meeting on November 2, Spark CEO Simon Moutter delivered a passionate speech in favor of Huawei, saying the company should be allowed to bid for the upgrade. 5G, unless the government can provide "irrefutable proof" of its security threat.

For its part, Huawei sought to defuse the controversy by stating that it would only attempt to put equipment on 5G cellular sites (the RAN or Radio Area Network), and not on the "core". "or the brain of a 5G network. Last week, Spark and Huawei embarked on a test of 5G that would have proven that RAN could be isolated.

While the United States and Australia have long banned Huawei's ban, former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has actively encouraged the Chinese company, encouraging companies involved in the deployment of the Ultrafast Broadband service (UFB ) to consider its equipment as a quality tool and economical competitive auction.

Beyond the implications for New Zealand's trade relations with China, today's decision may require a more in-depth review of Huawei hardware spotted with UFB and Rural Broadband Initiative (RBI) deployments as well as Spark networks. , Vodafone and 2degrees.

Huawei technology has been at the heart of the 2degrees network since the launch of the telecommunication network a decade ago. Last week, spokesman Mat Bolland told the Herald that there had never been any evidence that Huawei was a security threat.

A ban by Huawei would leave only two major telecom infrastructure providers to bid for 5G work – Nokia Networks and Ericsson – which would make the market less competitive, Bolland said. The resulting price increases would ultimately be passed on to the consumer.

Spark chose Huawei for its 4G network after the debacle of Alcatel-Lucent with the upgrade of its 3G network, called "XT".

Andrew Bowater, deputy CEO of Huawei New Zealand, said his company's policy is to cooperate fully with the GCSB. As in the UK and Canada, no technology issues had been raised, he said at the Herald latest. Now it has changed.