Telecom Lead Asia: Despite fears over cyber security,
Chinese telecom gear maker Huawei has been given approval to take part
in New Zealand’s $1.35 billion ultrafast broadband project.

 

The Chinese gear maker has signed a deal with Chorus, New
Zealand’s telecommunications utility company to extend the reach of broadband
into rural New Zealand. Deals have also been signed with Enable Services,
Christchurch, North Island Wel networks and 2 Degrees Mobile.

 

This will be a major boost for Australia to review its
decision to ban Huawei from bidding for the $38 billion national broadband
project.

 

Huawei broadband ban issue: Is Australia playing double
standard?

 

Though the Australia government has banned Huawei from
bidding for the $38 billion national broadband project, the country is
continuing to look for investments from Chinese companies including the telecom
equipment major. Is the Australian government playing a double standard?

 

Huawei has been blocked in both Australia and the United
States over security concerns and it’s hard to believe our security agencies
know something about Huawei that Australia and the United States don’t,” said
Gareth Hughes, ICT spokesperson at Green Party.

 

Cyber warfare is a major security concern and the
Government needs to ensure that it is protecting the interests of New
Zealanders and New Zealand companies. Fear of offending the Chinese Government
should not stand in the way of New Zealand’s national security or prevent the
Government from carrying out an investigation,” Hughes added.

 

Last
month, the federal government of Australia banned Huawei from participating in
multibillion- dollar tenders to supply equipment to broadband network. Concerns
over cyber attacks originating in China were the main reason for banning
Huawei.

 

The New Zealand Government says it is comfortable with
the security of its telecommunications and broadband systems.

 

I’m aware, obviously, of Australias’ decision to exclude
Huawei from the NBN and that’s their decision. We take security of the network
very seriously, but we’ve obviously responded to the threats we’re aware of and
put in place steps to deal with that,” said Amy Adams, the Communications
Minister of New Zealand.

 

However, Labour Party’s Communications and IT
spokesperson Clare Curran is asking the Government to explain why their
decision to involve Huawei in broadband projects is at variance with that of
the Australian Government, according to theepochtimes.com.

 

Huawei grabs #2 spot in wireless network market in Q4 2011 from
Nokia Siemens

 

The $38 billion national broadband project is one of the
largest telecom infrastructure projects in the world. If most of the countries
and operators continue to use Huawei equipments in their telecom networks,
should Australia ban a company like Huawei?

 

Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei has overtaken
Nokia Siemens Networks to grab second place in the wireless equipment market in
Q4 2011. Ericsson is the market leader, with approximately $3.5 billion in
wireless network equipment sales during fourth quarter of 2011.

 

Danish Khan
[email protected]