Australia banned Huawei from 5G network due to security concerns

Chinese-owned telecommunications firm Huawei has been banned from Australia’s 5G network due to security concerns.

The Australian government considers risky the involvement of Huawei for the rolling out of next-generation 5G communication networks.

Huawei Australia defined the decision disappointing.

The Chinese company has been founded by a former People’s Liberation Army official in 1987.

The US was the first country that warned of the security risks associated with the usage of the products manufactured by the Chinese telecommunications giant.

The Chinese firm denies having shared Australian customer data with the Chinese intelligence, but it is not enough for the Australian Government.

Australian authorities also banned the Chinese firm ZTE Corp.

Huawei Australia Chairman John Lord explained in June that banning one of the world’s leading 5G suppliers could impact Australia’s economic growth and productivity for generations.

The Chinese Government is concerned about the decision of the Australian Government.

“We urge the Australian government to discard ideological biases and create a level-playing filed for Chinese companies’ operations in Australia,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang.

In May, the Pentagon ordered retail outlets on US military bases to stop selling Huawei and ZTE products due to unacceptable security risk they pose.

The Pentagon considers the security risk posed by the adoption of the devices manufactured by the Chinese firms unacceptable, US officials believe the smartphones could be used to spy on military personnel.

“Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the department’s personnel, information and mission,” said  Pentagon spokesman Major Dave Eastburn.

“In light of this information, it was not prudent for the department’s exchanges to continue selling them.”

In February, Dan Coats, the Director of National Intelligence, along with several other top intel officials, invited Americans to avoid buying Huawei and ZTE products.

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Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – Australia, cyber espionage)

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