Huawei 'never were not' allowed to run 5G network - Jacinda Ardern
19/02/2019
Katie Fitzgerald
Chinese telecommunications company Huawei was never ruled out of building parts of New Zealand's 5G network, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) said it had concerns with letting Huawei run the network in November and plans hit a stumbling block.
Spark wanted to start using Huawei cellphone tower equipment from 2020, and notified director-general of the (GCSB) Andrew Hampton about the proposal last year, as is required by law.
But after carrying out an assessment, the GCSB identified major network security risks if the technology was to be implemented.
China's relationship with New Zealand appearing to sour significantly after the decision, although Ms Ardern said it was simply "complex".
Several other countries have had similar concerns, but on Monday it was revealed the United Kingdom may let Huawei install a network there after all, after work to mitigate security concerns.
Ms Ardern told The AM Show New Zealand was in a similar place to the UK, looking at how it can mitigate any concerns about security, although the process was different.
"How far down the track the UK already is with Huawei, actually is different to New Zealand... we have a different process.
"We have a piece of legislation that says that we go through a pretty rigorous assessment independently via the GCSB, they'll look at concerns or any security issues.
"They have done so and have gone back to Spark... and said to them there are concerns, your option now is to mitigate those and that is the place in the process where we currently are."
But she refused to say the GCSB decision meant the end of Huawei's plans to help build the network, rather it was delayed while Spark looked for a solution.
more @ https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/poli...allowed-to-run-5g-network-jacinda-ardern.html
19/02/2019
Katie Fitzgerald
Chinese telecommunications company Huawei was never ruled out of building parts of New Zealand's 5G network, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says.
The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) said it had concerns with letting Huawei run the network in November and plans hit a stumbling block.
Spark wanted to start using Huawei cellphone tower equipment from 2020, and notified director-general of the (GCSB) Andrew Hampton about the proposal last year, as is required by law.
But after carrying out an assessment, the GCSB identified major network security risks if the technology was to be implemented.
China's relationship with New Zealand appearing to sour significantly after the decision, although Ms Ardern said it was simply "complex".
Several other countries have had similar concerns, but on Monday it was revealed the United Kingdom may let Huawei install a network there after all, after work to mitigate security concerns.
Ms Ardern told The AM Show New Zealand was in a similar place to the UK, looking at how it can mitigate any concerns about security, although the process was different.
"How far down the track the UK already is with Huawei, actually is different to New Zealand... we have a different process.
"We have a piece of legislation that says that we go through a pretty rigorous assessment independently via the GCSB, they'll look at concerns or any security issues.
"They have done so and have gone back to Spark... and said to them there are concerns, your option now is to mitigate those and that is the place in the process where we currently are."
But she refused to say the GCSB decision meant the end of Huawei's plans to help build the network, rather it was delayed while Spark looked for a solution.
more @ https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/poli...allowed-to-run-5g-network-jacinda-ardern.html