New Zealand has blocked one of its biggest telecoms operators from using 5G equipment from China’s Huawei because of national security concerns, in the latest sign of growing western unease over the Shenzhen-based company’s links to the Chinese government.
Spark New Zealand’s proposal to use Huawei’s 5G technology was declined after the country’s intelligence agency said it would raise “significant national security risks”, the company said in a statement.
The move follows a decision by Australia in August to block Huawei and fellow Chinese telecoms equipment maker ZTE from providing 5G technology to mobile phone operators on similar grounds.