NEW ZEALAND : ''HUAWEI FEARS HUMMING''

NEW ZEALAND will independently assess the risk of using China's Huawei Technologies in 5G networks, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday after a report suggested that British precautions could be used by other nations.

Huawei, the world's biggest producer of telecom equipment, faces intense scrutiny in West over its relationship with the Chinese government and US-led allegations that its equipment could be used by Beijing for spying.

NO EVIDENCE has been produced publicly and the firm has repeatedly denied the allegations, which have led several countries to restrict  Huawei's access to their markets.

The Financial Times reported on Sunday that the British government had decided it can mitigate the risks arising from the use of Huawei equipment in 5G networks.

It said Britain's conclusion would ''carry great weight'' with European leaders and other nations could use similar precautions.

New Zealand's intelligence agency in November rejected an initial request from telecommunication  services provider Spark to use 5G equipment provided by Huawei.

At the time, the Government's Communication Security Bureau [GCSB] gave Spark options to mitigate national security concerns over the use of Huawei equipment, Andern said on Monday.

''The ball is now in their court,'' she told a weekly news conference.

Andern said that New Zealand, which is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing network that includes the United Kingdom and the United States, would conduct its own assessment.

''I would expect the GCSB to apply with our legislation and our own security assessments. It is fair to say Five Eyes, of course, share information but we make our own independent decisions,'' she said.
[Agencies]

The honor and serving of the latest global operational research on ''Huawei, Charges and Security'',   continues