The telecom equipment vendor Huawei has termed Australia’s recent decision to ban it from supplying gear for 5G mobile network in the country as ‘politically motivated’, and not the result of a fact-based, transparent, or equitable decision-making process.
In a statement issued last week, the Australian government said that “it considers that the involvement of vendors who are likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law may risk failure by the carrier to adequately protect a 5G network from unauthorised access or interference.”
Though the statement did not specifically mention the Chinese vendor, an Australian government official was quoted by media, as saying the order was aimed at Huawei and precluded its involvement in the network.
Huawei later issued a statement, lashing out at the decision, and said it is not aligned with the long-term interests of the Australian people and denies Australian businesses and consumers the right to choose from the best communications technology available. “A non-competitive market will raise the cost of network construction and have lasting effects on Australia’s transition to a digital economy. In the end, everyday businesses and consumers are the ones who will suffer the most from the government’s actions,” it said.
The vendor said that it is one of the core developers behind 5G. “The Australian government recognises the massive benefits that 5G technology will bring to Australia’s economy, and yet it has restricted the use of Huawei’s technology. Innovation works because innovators are rewarded for their work, but the government has effectively denied Huawei a right to compete for a return on our investment,” Huawei said in the emailed statement.
The company also pointed out that there is no fundamental difference between 5G and 4G network architecture. “The core networks and access networks are still separated. Moreover, 5G has stronger guarantees around privacy and security protection than 3G and 4G. We urge the Australian government to take an objective and fact-based approach to security issues, and work together on effective long-term solutions. Open dialogue, joint innovation, and close collaboration are essential to the ongoing development of the telecommunications industry.”
