The Canadian government late last week barred Huawei and ZTE from supplying equipment for telecommunications networks in the country. The move brings Canada in line with most of its Western brethren, including the U.S. As is the case with the U.S., the Canadian government instructed that currently fielded equipment from the two Chinese suppliers must be removed and replaced as well.
The policy announcement immediately targets new 5G wireless networks and legacy 4G infrastructure. Purchases of new wireless equipment from Huawei and ZTE must cease by September 1, 2022. Operators will have until June 28, 2024, to remove any fielded 5G equipment and cease use of any 5G managed services provided via either of the two Chinese companies. 4G wireless network gear and managed services from Huawei and ZTE must be removed by December 31, 2027.
The Canadian government also signaled its intention to impose similar restraints on GPON gear from the two Chinese companies. The timing of those restraints was not disclosed. The government also did not immediately signal that it would help pay the costs of the rip-and-replace activities. However, “the Government will engage with industry throughout the implementation of such measures to ensure they appropriately take into consideration any logistical realities and the need to maintain and promote the resiliency of networks in Canada,” read a policy document issued at the time of the announcement.
“Today, the Government of Canada is ensuring the long-term safety of our telecommunications infrastructure. As part of that, the government intends to prohibit the inclusion of Huawei and ZTE products and services in Canada’s telecommunications systems,” stated The Honorable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, on May 19. “This follows a thorough review by our independent security agencies and in consultation with our closest allies. As a result, telecommunications companies that operate in Canada would no longer be permitted to make use of designated equipment or services provided by Huawei and ZTE. As well, companies that already use this equipment installed in their networks would be required to cease its use and remove it. The government intends to implement these measures as part of a broader agenda to promote the security of Canada’s telecommunications networks and in consultation with industry.”
The U.S. banned the use of equipment from Huawei and ZTE in 2019 and established a program to fund the replacement of equipment from those two companies in 2021 (see “FCC sets opening of Huawei/ZTE equipment replacement program”).
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