Canada Bans Huawei and ZTE Equipment from its Telecom Networks

Canada says it will ban the use of China’s Huawei Technologies and ZTE 5G equipment citing national security concerns.

With the move, Canada joins the rest of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which also includes the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. All of those countries have already banned the telecommunications equipment. While the move had been widely expected, it had been delayed due to diplomatic tensions with China.

“We intend to exclude Huawei and ZTE from our 5G networks,” Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters Thursday in Ottawa according to CNN. “Providers who already have this equipment installed will be required to cease its use and remove it under the plans we’re announcing today.”

Companies will have until June 2024 to remove 5G equipment and until the end of 2027 to remove 4G equipment.

Officials for Huawei didn’t immediately return a CNET email seeking comment, but ZTE released a statement calling the new “regrettable,” adding that it rejects the premise of the move.

“We have always abided by international standards and best practices, opening up our cybersecurity labs to enable regulators and stakeholders to verify the security of ZTE products,” the statement says.

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