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Canada Bans Huawei and ZTE Equipment From Its Telecom Networks

With the move, Canada joins with the US and the rest of the Five Eyes network.

Bree Fowler Senior Writer
Bree Fowler writes about cybersecurity and digital privacy. Before joining CNET she reported for The Associated Press and Consumer Reports. A Michigan native, she's a long-suffering Detroit sports fan, world traveler, wannabe runner and champion baker of over-the-top birthday cakes and all-things sourdough.
Expertise cybersecurity, digital privacy, IoT, consumer tech, smartphones, wearables
Bree Fowler
Canadian flag blowing in the wind

Canada is joining with other countries in banning Huawei and ZTE telecom equipment.

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Canada says it will ban the use of China's Huawei Technologies and ZTE 5G equipment, citing national security concerns.

With the move, Canada joins the rest of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which also includes the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand. All of those countries have already banned the telecommunications equipment. While the move was widely expected, it had been delayed due to diplomatic tensions with China.

"We intend to exclude Huawei and ZTE from our 5G networks," Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters Thursday in Ottawa, according to CNN. "Providers who already have this equipment installed will be required to cease its use and remove it under the plans we're announcing today."

Companies will have until June 2024 to remove  5G  equipment and until the end of 2027 to remove 4G equipment.

Representatives for  Huawei  didn't immediately respond to a CNET email seeking comment, but  ZTE  released a statement calling the news "regrettable," adding that it rejects the premise of the move.

"We have always abided by international standards and best practices, opening up our cybersecurity labs to enable regulators and stakeholders to verify the security of ZTE products," the statement said.