May 20, 2022

Canada to ban China’s Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks.

Canada to ban China’s Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks

Canada says it will ban two of China’s biggest telecom equipment makers from working on its 5G phone networks.

The restrictions against Huawei and ZTE were announced by the country’s industry minister on Thursday.

Francois-Philippe Champagne says the move will improve Canada’s mobile internet services and “protect the safety and security of Canadians”.

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Several nations – including the UK, US, Australia, and New Zealand – have already put restrictions on the firms.

The four countries, along with Canada, make up an intelligence-sharing arrangement named ‘Five Eyes‘. It evolved during the Cold War as a mechanism for monitoring the Soviet Union and sharing classified information.

Canada’s announcement was widely expected, as its allies had already barred Huawei and ZTE from their own high-speed networks.

The Canadian government’s decision means that telecoms firms in the country will no longer be allowed to use equipment made by Huawei and ZTE.

Companies that have already installed the equipment made by the Chinese manufacturers must now remove it, Mr. Champagne said.

Canada first announced a review of Huawei equipment in September 2018.

Some of China’s biggest technology and telecoms firms have been targeted in recent years by governments in the US and other Western nations over national security concerns.

In November, US President Joe Biden signed legislation that stops companies judged to be security threats from receiving new telecom equipment licenses in the country.

It means equipment from Huawei, ZTE, and three other Chinese companies is banned for use in US telecoms networks.