New Zealand rejects the use of Huawei 5G for national security reasons

The New Zealand intelligence agency has rejected the country's first telecommunications sector request to use 5G technology equipment provided by the Chinese company Huawei Technologies Co.

, alleging reasons of national security.

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The telecommunications service provider Spark New Zealand Ltd, which made this request, announced on Wednesday that it would review the State agency's argument before considering any future developments. 39, other steps.

The decision is part of a growing mistrust by Western countries over the Chinese government's potential participation in mobile communication networks and the fifth generation. Huawei has repeatedly said that Beijing has no influence over these systems.

Earlier this year, neighboring Australia had banned Huawei from supplying 5G equipment, also citing security risks. Last week, the Wall Street Journal announced that the US government was trying to convince companies from allied countries to avoid Huawei.

"I reported to Spark that a significant risk to network security had been identified," said Wednesday Andrew Hampton, director general of the government's Office of Communications Security.

Intelligence Minister Andrew Little told Reuters that Spark, whose application was part of the country's first request for 5G technology, could work with the agency to mitigate risks. Hampton declined to spell out the concerns, noting that it was classified information.

Huawei said in a statement "that it will actively address all concerns and work together to find the way forward", adding that it has signed more than 20 5G contracts with operators of the whole world.