Telecom Lead Asia: Chinese telecom giant Huawei has
termed the ban imposed by the Australian government as complete nonsense.
Concerns over cyber attacks originating in China are the main reason for
banning Huawei.
The
federal government has banned Huawei from participating in Australia’s
ambitious Aus$36 billion (US$38 billion) tenders to supply equipment to
broadband network.
According to the Australian Financial Review, the issue
of imposing ban on Huawei was considered by the government’s National Security
Committee, a high-level group including the prime minister, foreign and defence
ministers, and their decision was based on strong advice from intelligence
operatives,
“Huawei is not a security risk to Australia,” said John Lord,
chairman of Huawei Australia.
According to state broadcaster ABC, Huawei noticed a
marked cooling in relations after US President Barack Obama visited Australia
last November. It further said people from the company were told to get a
message to China that Australia would not tolerate increased cyber hacking of
ministerial offices and departments.
Huawei’s technology is used to build mobile phone networks around the world. It
has repeatedly denied any links to the Chinese military, but has also run afoul
of regulators and lawmakers in the United States.
The company has been facing problems in telecom markets
in India, Iran and America. Last year, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), an independent agency, urged Huawei to end its
business in Iran.
UANI alleged that Huawei provides Iranian regime with
cellular and electronic technology that it has used to conduct surveillance on
its citizens, and track down human rights activists and dissidents.
