New Zealand rejects Spark's request to use Huawei 5G equipment, fears national security risks

Nieuws Mobiel Nieuw-Zeeland 28 NOV 2018
New Zealand rejects Spark's request to use Huawei 5G equipment, fears national security risks
New Zealand’s intelligence agency has rejected Spark’s request to use 5G equipment provided by China’s Huawei, citing concerns about national security. Spark New Zealand plans to review the decision before considering any further steps, Reuters reports. “I have informed Spark that a significant network security risk was identified”, Andrew Hampton, government Communications Security Bureau director-general, earlier said. 

According to intelligence services minister Andrew Little, Spark - whose request was part of the country’s first 5G application - could work with the agency to mitigate risk. He declined to specify the concerns, citing classified information. 

Huawei said it will “actively address any concerns and work together to find a way forward”, adding it has signed more than 20 5G contracts with operators worldwide.

Huawei powered New Zealand’s 4G mobile network, and is investing NZD 400 million (approximately USD 271.88 million) into research and development. “The difference between 5G networks and conventional 4G and 3G networks is the configuration of the technology”, Little said. “With 5G technology, every component of the 5G network means every part of the network can be accessed”, he added.

Categories:

Mobiel

Companies:

Spark,  Huawei

Countries:

Nieuw-Zeeland

Tags:

Network equipment, Wholesale, 5G, Government policy

Related Articles

NIEUW-ZEELAND 1 OCT 2019

New Zealand's Spark launches first 5G wireless broadband connections

New Zealand operator Spark has announced it has launched its first 5G connections. A limited number of business and consumer customers in Alexandra, Central Otago, are invited to experience wireless broadband services delivered by Spark's 5G network. Spark's 5G network in Alexandra uses 2600MHz spectrum. The Spark 5G network in Alexandra uses Nokia 5G radio equipment, including a smart antenna system.

NIEUW-ZEELAND 8 AUG 2019

Nokia wins 5G network deal with Vodafone New Zealand

Nokia was awarded contract to supply and integrate a 5G network for Vodafone New Zealand. The network will be launched in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown in late 2019. The deal, including Nokia's AirScale radio access network, cloud-native core and design services. Nokia said its 5G portfolio offers operators the necessary flexibility and functionalities to deliver 5G services to both consumers and enterprises.

NIEUW-ZEELAND 1 AUG 2019

Vodafone New Zealand to launch 5G network in December

Vodafone has announced it will launch its 5G network in New Zealand this December. The service will initially be available in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown. This announcement coincides with the completion of the sale of Vodafone New Zealand to Brookfield and Infratil, and follows Vodafone's recent rollout of 5G in the UK, Italy, Spain and Germany.

NIEUW-ZEELAND 17 JUL 2019

Spark officially opens 5G Co-Lab for New Zealand businesses

New Zealand operator Spark has officially opened its 5G Co-Lab. The space is designed to provide New Zealand businesses with access to Spark's 5G network, so they can create and develop their ideas, products and services. The Co-Lab space is an extension of Spark's interactive 5G Lab which Spark launched in late 2018 with Emirates Team New Zealand.

WERELD 18 DEC 2018

Huawei verdedigt veiligheid van haar producten en ziet 5G business groeien

Huawei heeft tijdens een persconferentie met internationale journalisten in zijn kantoor in Dongguan, China de veiligheid van haar activiteiten, producten en diensten toegelicht en verdedigd. De persconferentie volgde op de acties van bepaalde landen die het bedrijf verbieden om netwerkapparatuur aan te bieden vanwege zorgen dat daarmee een achterdeur naar de Chinese inlichtingendiensten geopend wordt. Ook de arrestatie van de CFO van het bedrijf in Canada, op last van de VS die vermoeden dat Huawei het han

WERELD 18 DEC 2018

Huawei defends security record as 5G business continues to grow

Huawei has defended its security record in a press conference with international journalists at its office in Dongguan, China. The meeting follows certain countries banning the company from providing network equipment due to concerns it may serve as a backdoor to Chinese intelligence agencies, as well as the arrest of the company's CFO in Canada on a US warrant for suspected trade sanction violations. 

IRELAND 11 DEC 2018

Irish operators defend use of Huawei network technology

Irish telecoms operators have defended their use of network equipment from firm Huawei as other countries worldwide move to ban the use of the Chinese company's technology and services, reports RTE News.

WERELD 10 DEC 2018

Huawei CFO could face up to 30 years if indicted for violating US trade sanctions

Huawei CFO Meng Wangzhou faced a bail hearing on 7 December in Canada, after getting arrested between flights in Vancouver, various dailies have reported. The executive was arrested at the behest of the US, on suspicion she violated US trade sanctions against Iran. Wangzhou, the daughter of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, could face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. 

WERELD 6 DEC 2018

Huawei CFO arrested in Canada on suspected US trade sanctions violation

Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada on 1 December at the request of US law enforcement authorities, on suspicion she violated US trade sanctions against Iran, the Globe and Mail reported. She will face extradition to the US, with a bail hearing set for 7 December.  

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 5 DEC 2018

BT strips Huawei equipment from 4G network core

BT is removing Huawei equipment from the core of its existing 4G and 3G networks, and will not use technology from the Chinese company at the core of its new 5G network, reports the Financial Times. 

VERENIGD KONINKRIJK 5 DEC 2018

MI6 chief questions Chinese role in UK communications networks

The head of MI6, Alex Younger, has raised security questions about the use of technology from Chinese companies in the UK's communications infrastructure, reports BBC News.

NEDERLAND 29 NOV 2018

Dutch Parliament to look into vital infrastructure contracts with Chinese firms

The Dutch Lower House of Parliament has adopted two motions calling for research to identify the risks of the new public safety networkC2000 network and whether vital infrastructure such as the network should be provided by Chinese parties. The concerns were prompted by general geopolitical developments and research by Dutch intelligence service AIVD. Concerns have also arisen in the US and Australia, as well as New Zealand.

FRANKRIJK 28 NOV 2018

Huawei to open new R&D centre in France

Huawei announced plans to open an R&D centre in the French city of Grenoble, which will be mainly focused on smartphone sensors and parallel computing software development. The company said that this new addition brings to five the number of its R&D teams in the country. Two are located in Sophia Antipolis and Paris, researching image processing and design respectively, while the other two existing teams are based at Huawei's facilities in Boulogne-Billancourt outside Paris, working on algorithms and mobile

WERELD 23 NOV 2018

US officials start 'campaign' to dissuade use of Huawei, Chinese tech - report

The US is looking to stop other countries from working with equipment from Huawei, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. The US government is trying to persuade foreign allies, especially countries where Huawei equipment is already in use, to stop working with the equipment. These countries include Germany, Italy and Japan. US officials have briefed their government counterparts and telecom executives about what they see as cybersecurity risks. The US is even considering the increase of financia

DUITSLAND 14 NOV 2018

German officials make last-minute push to block Chinese 5G suppliers - report

Senior German officials are hoping still for a ban on Chinese suppliers for the country's 5G network, before the government finalises plans for the 5G spectrum auction next year. They want the government to consider excluding Chinese firms such as Huawei from building the country's 5G infrastructure amid concerns this could compromise national security, Reuters reports.

Just In

16:42

SLT-Mobitel launches 5G network in Sri Lanka

16:19

Dialog Axiata launches 5G network, connects 1.5 million subscribers

15:56

UK govt to ban AI-enabled nudification apps to protect women, girls

15:42

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins

Complete profile

Before downloading the whitepaper, we would like to ask you to complete your profile with company and position. After confirming you will receive the white paper.