Officials in Canada announced Thursday that Huawei and ZTE will be barred from its 5G wireless networks due to national security concerns.
The long-awaited move comes on the heels of a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijing over the detention of a senior Huawei executive on a US warrant, which has now been resolved.
The US has warned about the security implications of granting Chinese tech firms access to telecommunications infrastructure that could be used for state espionage.
Both Huawei and Beijing have denied the allegations, with Beijing threatening repercussions if countries impose restrictions on the telecoms equipment provider.
An AFP request for comment on Canada’s ban was not immediately returned.
Canadian Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino made the announcement at a news conference.
“Today, we’re announcing our intention to prohibit the inclusion of Huawei and ZTE products and services in Canada’s telecommunication systems,” Champagne said.
“This follows a full review by our security agencies and in consultation with our closest allies.”
Canada had been reviewing the 5G technology and network access for several years, repeatedly delaying a decision that was first expected in 2019.It remained silent on the telecoms issue after China jailed two Canadians — diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor — in what observers believed was in retaliation for the arrest of Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wangzhou in Vancouver in December 2018 at the request of the United States.
‘Hostile actors’Huawei already supplies some Canadian telecommunications firms with 4G equipment.
The United States, Australia, Britain, New Zealand, Japan and Sweden have already blocked or restricted the use of Huawei technology in their 5G networks.
The US government considers Huawei a potential security threat due to the background of its founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, a former Chinese army engineer who is Meng’s father.
Canada’s two spy agencies had reportedly been divided initially over whether or not to ban Huawei from Canada’s 5G networks — one favouring a ban while the other argued risks could be mitigated.
