KATHMANDU: The China-based company, Huawei Technologies, faces product and 5G wireless network project bans in several countries across the globe.
The majority of the countries, particularly the United States, European countries, Australia, among others allege that Huawei’s products may purposely contain security holes that the Beijing government could use for spying purposes.
Moreover, several countries allege that Huawei even steals intellectual property from foreign technology companies.
The Chinese technology company faces allegations in terms of intellectual property and research and development. For instance, the US Department of Justice in January 2019, charged Huawei with bank fraud as well as stealing trade secrets.
The Department of Justice had then charged the Chinese company Huawei with a list of crimes including money laundering, conspiracy, bank and wire fraud, obstruction of justice, and flouting U.S. sanctions on Iran.
Huawei, however, was quick to deny the charges.
Meanwhile, Ren Zhengfei, Huawei’s founder, broke years of silence to dismiss the US accusations that the company helps Beijing to spy on Western governments.
It should be noted that several factors have heightened media coverage and discussion about Huawei. Discussions about Huawei’s business practices were intensified amid the US-China trade war talks.
Likewise, several companies and countries worldwide are considering 5G wireless network rollouts.
To have a quick list of companies and countries alleging this Chinese company, Apple says Huawei has allegedly pursued information about Apple trade secrets.
Meanwhile, Australia blocked Huawei and ZTE from providing equipment for its 5G network in 2019, according to TechCrunch.
Likewise, Australian government officials have also advised India to ban Huawei from supplying parts for a rollout of a high-speed telecommunications network, according to Reuters (September 9, 2019).
Bahrain also planned to roll out a commercial 5G mobile network partly using Huawei technology despite the US’ concerns that Huawei’s equipment could be used for spying, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Telecom Italia excluded Huawei from a tender for 5G equipment for the core network that it was preparing to build in Brazil and Italy, according to Reuters (July 9, 2020).
The Britain telecom service provider, too, pulled out Huawei equipment of its core 4G network to fit its own internal policy citing cyber-security risks, according to Cnet.
Canada, meanwhile, rolled out Huawei 5G from the country, the Globe and Mail reported in February 2019.
It should also be noted that the US national security adviser urged Canada not to use Huawei 5G technology. The advisor was of the view that it would jeopardize the intelligence sharing with the US and expose Canadians to being profiled by the Chinese government, the Reuters reports in November 2019.
It should also be noted that China in May 2019 criticized a decision by the US government to put Huawei on a blacklist.
Denmark, meanwhile, expelled two Huawei staff following an inspection at the company’s Copenhagen office as they did not comply with laws covering residence and work permits.
Germany’s Deutsche Telekom said if Huawei is banned in Europe, it would delay its deployment of 5G networks by up to two years.
Meanwhile, the European Union, too, would put a de-facto ban on Huawei equipment for next-generation mobile networks such as 5G Wireless projects, according to Reuters in January 2019.
European countries, too, have tightened the network security regulations rather than outright banning Huawei’s technology.
The rollout of 5G services in Europe was slowed by the US sanctions against Huawei. Likewise, the EU countries also endorsed a tough line for selecting 5G suppliers potentially dealing a blow to Huawei, Reuters said in November 2019.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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