Canada bans 5G equipment from Huawei and ZTE from networks

The Canadian government has banned providers in the country from using equipment from Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE in their 5G networks. The providers must remove the devices and services by mid-2024.

The Canadian government has “serious concerns” about suppliers such as Huawei and ZTE, as they could be forced to act on behalf of China in ways that “conflict Canadian laws or conflict with Canadian interests.” The government bans providers therefore to use new 5G equipment and services from Huawei and ZTE and they have until June 28, 2024 at the latest to remove existing systems.

The measure also prohibits the use of new 4G network devices and requires providers to remove existing 4G systems from the two Chinese companies. They have until December 31, 2027 to do so. There will also be restrictions on the use of GPON equipment in fiber optic networks.

Until now, Canada has only banned Huawei and ZTE from “sensitive parts” of 3G and 4G networks. In announcing the new measures, which will be introduced through amendments to the telecommunications law, the government says that close allies have the same security concerns about Huawei and ZTE. Opposition parties report to CBC that the measures come in abundance and that telecom companies have already purchased hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Huawei equipment. Canada’s previous government promised to come up with a decision on Huawei before the 2019 election.