Canada bans Huawei and ZTE

The Canadian government has banned the use of Huawei and ZTE tech in its 5G networks, as part of a new telecommunications security framework.

Canada has already excluded the two Chinese companies from sensitive areas of Canadian 3G, 4G and LTE networks. But by the end of 2027, all Telecom companies must remove or terminate any ZTE or Huawei existing 4G equipment and managed services.

By September 1, 2022, companies will have to stop buying 4G and 5G equipment from the two Chinese companies. Companies using equipment or managed services from the two Chinese companies have been until 28 June 2024 to stop operating or remove the equipment.

Canada said in the future it intends to impose restrictions on Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) equipment used in fibre-optic networks and its security review program will “expand to consider risks from all key suppliers.”

The decision to ban Huawei and ZTE came after extensive examination of 5G wireless technology and its implementation.

The government cited its allies as having similar concerns. Canada is a member of the Five Eyes network alongside the United States, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. All four other nations have banned the equipment already.

Huawei has long insisted that its products are secure, that it will observe the laws of nations in which it does business, and dismised concerns about Beijing’s ability to influence the company.

Others have said the move puts an undue burden on telecom companies as they must pay to replace existing equipment.

But Canada has been in a tricky diplomatic place with the Chinese government since it arrested and detained Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. extradition warrant.