As the Liberal government prepares to roll out its policy on next-generation mobile networks, global security experts say all signs point to the exclusion of Chinese supplier Huawei from the long-awaited plan.
The development of 5G, or fifth generation, networks will allow people to connect to the Internet faster and provide vast data capacity to meet voracious demand, as more and more objects connect to the Internet and more innovations such as virtual reality, immersive games and autonomous vehicles are emerging.
Opposition conservatives in Ottawa have long pressured the Liberals to deny Huawei a role in building the country’s 5G infrastructure, saying it would make it easier for Beijing to spy on Canadians.
Some argue that Huawei’s participation could give it access to a whole host of digital information based on how, when and where Canadian customers use internet-connected devices. According to the theory, Chinese security agencies could then force the company to give them this personal information.
These concerns stem from the fact that China’s National Intelligence Law states that Chinese organizations and citizens must support, assist, and cooperate with state intelligence services.
Huawei insists that it is a fiercely independent company that does not engage in any espionage for anyone, including Beijing.
“We sell to 180 countries around the world,” said Alykhan Velshi, vice president of corporate affairs, Huawei Canada. We must comply with the laws of each of these countries. And if we were to breach trust, we would end up selling only in one country. “
Too aligned with the Chinese regime?
Regardless of whether Huawei poses a real security risk, concerns have given rise to a general notion that countries cannot afford to bet on a telecommunications company that has been enthusiastically backed by Beijing, Wesley said. Wark, Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and Policy Officer at the Center for International Governance Innovation.
“The company is just too closely aligned with the Chinese regime for Western states to do anything else,” Wark said. And they have alternatives ”.
Mr. Velshi added that Huawei Canada hopes – and expects – that any decision the federal government makes on 5G policy will be “based on technology, not policy.”
He also points out that most of Huawei’s approximately 1,600 employees in Canada are involved in research and development as well as the marketing of products other than network equipment for telecommunications operators.
“The reality is that we have a diverse business in Canada,” said Mr. Velshi. That’s why we sell smart phones in Canada, we sell earbuds, we sell laptops. “
Wider perspective
While the Huawei issue has received considerable attention, the government’s review of 5G is a much broader strategic look at how this nascent technology can boost Canada’s economy.
“However, in order to take advantage of this opportunity for economic growth through 5G, the safety and security of the technology must be ensured,” say briefing notes prepared earlier this year for Bill Blair, then Minister of Justice. Public security.
“Incidents resulting from the exploitation of vulnerabilities by malicious actors will be more difficult to protect, and could have a wider impact than in previous generations of wireless technology,” the notes add.
Whether by chance or by federal design, decisions made months, if not years ago, in meetings of foreign firms and corporate boardrooms have the potential to profoundly shape the rollout of 5G in Canada.
Three of Canada’s partners in the Group of Five intelligence-sharing alliance – the United States, Britain and Australia – have taken decisive action to limit the use of Huawei hardware in networks 5G of their countries.
The view of the United States
The federal government acknowledges that the United States has strongly urged countries to be cautious about 5G security considerations, noting that a U.S. delegation visited Canada in March 2020 to discuss the matter. with various ministers and government officials.
The United States has made it clear that Canada must “get on board” if it is to continue to be a member of the club, said Fen Hampson, professor of international affairs at Carleton University.
“This is the security premium you pay, not only nationally, but also to be a partner in privileged security alliances like the Group of Five. There is no free lunch, you cannot have the butter and the money from the butter, ”added Mr. Hampson.
“This is the big challenge we face today. And I think it’s pretty clear which way the government is going to dive. “
The Meng Wanzhou case
The announcement of Canada’s 5G policy has effectively been put on hold over the past three years by a tense geopolitical drama that has played out between Ottawa and Beijing.
Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior Huawei executive, in December 2018 at the behest of the United States, where she was wanted on allegations of violations of sanctions against Iran.
The move clearly angered Beijing, and two Canadians working in China – Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor – were arrested soon after on charges of undermining national security, a move widely seen as retaliation against Ottawa.
The United States recently reached a postponement agreement for Ms. Meng’s case, which allowed her release, and Beijing allowed the “two Michael’s,” as they’ve come to be known, to return to Canada.
Meanwhile, major Canadian telecommunications companies have managed the uncertainty by working with Sweden’s Ericsson, Finland’s Nokia and South Korean Samsung to help them build their 5G networks.
Bell Canada, for its part, had little to say about the upcoming federal announcement. “We have no comments to make other than that we are satisfied with our 5G network providers, Ericsson and Nokia,” said spokesperson Caroline Audet.
Huawei points out that the company’s participation in existing mobile networks in Canada has never given rise to any security-related complaints, from customers or the government, regarding its equipment.
“And Huawei continues to play an important role in Canada’s telecommunications network today,” said Velshi.
Still, if Canada were to ban the company’s participation in 5G, it would raise questions about the fate of Huawei equipment in networks already installed.
The government recalls that the Canadian Security Assessment Program has been in place since 2013 to address cybersecurity risks.
The Telecommunications Security Establishment, Canada’s cyber espionage agency, works with telecommunications companies and equipment suppliers to exclude certain equipment from sensitive areas of Canadian networks and ensure mandatory testing of equipment before it is used in systems. less vulnerable.
According to the government, the know-how acquired through the program will be important in assessing cyberthreats and the risks of emerging technologies.