Canada to ban Huawei/ZTE 5G equipment

Canada says it will ban two of China's biggest telecom equipment makers from working on its 5G phone networks. Canada said its plans to ban china's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp 5G gear to protect national security. 

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told reporters in Ottawa "Francois-Philippe Champagne says the move will improve Canada's mobile internet services and "protect the safety and security of Canadians".  Canada also said "Providers who already have this equipment installed will be required to cease its use and remove it under the plans we're announcing today.

The decision widely expected had been delayed amid diplomatic tensions with China The rest of the Five Eyes network which consists of Canada, the United States, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand has already banned the equipment.

Huawei Canada said its equipment had been "closely scrutinised" by the government and security agencies, and added there had been "zero security incidents caused by Huawei equipment". Meanwhile, ZTE said it rejected the "premise" of the Canadian government's announcement, saying it was "highly speculative".