GCSB declines Spark’s proposal to use Huawei 5G equipment

Spark New Zealand Limited
ARBN 050 611 277 Spark City, 167 Victoria Street West, Private Bag 92028, Auckland, New Zealand


MARKET RELEASE
28 November 2018

GCSB declines Spark’s proposal to use Huawei 5G equipment

Spark New Zealand recently notified the Director-General of the Government
Communications Security Bureau (GCSB), in accordance with the requirements of
the Telecommunications (Interception Capability and Security) Act 2013 (TICSA), of
its proposed approach to implementing 5G technology on the Spark mobile network.
Specifically, this proposal involved the deployment of Huawei 5G equipment in
Spark’s planned 5G Radio Access Network (RAN), which involves the technology
associated with cell tower infrastructure.
The Director-General has informed Spark today that he considers Spark’s proposal to
use Huawei 5G equipment in Spark’s planned 5G RAN would, if implemented, raise
significant national security risks.
Under TICSA, this means Spark cannot implement or give effect to its proposal to
use Huawei RAN equipment in its planned 5G network.
Spark has not yet had an opportunity to review the detailed reasoning behind the
Director-General’s decision. Following our review, Spark will consider what further
steps, if any, it will take.
While we are disappointed with this decision, we are confident that the decision will
not affect our plans to launch Spark’s 5G network by 1 July 2020, subject to the
necessary spectrum being made available by the New Zealand Government.
Spark will not be making any further comment on this matter.
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