Notice Telus is issuing Huawei routers to new households here in Canada. Telus, Bell, Rogers - the 3 monopolies here on internet - means you could have about a third or more of the country transitioning to Chinese hardware; that is a lot.<p>As a Canadian citizen, I urge Canada to snub Huawei too. Doing business with businesses based in China for any reason should be met with extreme criticism simply based on the human rights atrocities that are happening there all the time; not to mention Chinese government's dismantling of free speech in Hong Kong [0] and its continued aggression towards the independent and separate country of Taiwan [1].<p>China's businesses should fix China's government before they expect to be rewarded with lucrative international deals to the scale that Telus (and Apple, et all) is awarding them.<p><a href="https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/10/14/beijing-taking-hong-kong-back-100-years-says-baggio-leung-new-convener-pro-independence-group-hknf/" rel="nofollow">https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/10/14/beijing-taking-hong-ko...</a><p><a href="https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/10/11/exclusive-beijing-tells-foreign-consulates-hong-kong-refrain-attending-taiwan-national-day-events/" rel="nofollow">https://www.hongkongfp.com/2018/10/11/exclusive-beijing-tell...</a>
Apart from U.S pressure, another point to consider is that Huawei is widely believed to have conducted large scale theft of Nortel IP in the 2000s. It's crazy that Canada would think of rewarding such conduct with important telecom contracts.<p>edit: <a href="https://business.financialpost.com/technology/nortel-hacked-to-pieces" rel="nofollow">https://business.financialpost.com/technology/nortel-hacked-...</a>
Stupid question, but aren't essentially <i>all</i> routers made in China? Maybe not neccessarily by natively Chinese companies, but for sure in Chinese factories owned 51% by Chinese citizens? Or are there recommendable domestic options? What's the difference security-wise between a Huawei device and, say, a Motorola device made in China?<p>I've used a Huawei LTE router from a German telco before and thought it was a pretty solid product, but given the recent headlines I find it hard to judge what's a legitimite concern and what's just "red scare".
Given the cozy relationship between the Chinese government and Chinese telecoms, it's probably best to avoid any Chinese made electronics for infrastructure, if possible. Chinese military agents are even implicated in attacks on Western companies to help their own corporations.<p>The scale at which companies work with the government and how the government funds companies makes it very hard to trust any Chinese company.
Based on Huawei's existing presence in Ottawa a couple years ago, I'd say that this ship has already sailed. Canada isn't going to kick out any of the companies that scooped up bits of what used to be Nortel.
>"grave concerns”<p>I just want to know what these grave concerns are. If they are such a big deal then the details should be released to the public.
Given all the animosity between the countries at the moment (Made in America, NAFTA 2, Bombardier, boarder delays, the Saudi fiasco, pending legalization of pot) now is not the best time for the US to urge Canada to impose any new restrictions. Canada laughed the last time the US described it as a national security threat (aluminum/steel tariffs) it will laugh at this one too.<p>Canada needs improved cellular services and it needs them now. Canada's cell networks are much more regulated than those of the US. They cover vastly larger areas and are much more expensive to access. The insertion of national security politics will only slow progress.
All the security concern about Huawei may actually make its devices more secure in the long run. The heightened scrutiny by various players not only deter Chinese government from conducting blatant hacks, but also expose many conventional vulnerabilities that pose a greater threat for most businesses. For example, UK intelligence agency has a joint testing center with Huawei to vet its source code and hardware design. It's really hard to find this kind of capable and independent party to perform such comprehensive security audit.
Is there any reason info showing this company to be any more evil than any other China based cell company? Just curious why they seem to be targeted more than others.
It really isn't a good time for the US to "urge" Canada to do anything. There is no surplus of good will between the countries after Trump's bullying and insults. Canada can make its own decisions.
> As a Canadian citizen, I urge Canada to snub Huawei too.<p>I'm not a fan of Huawei, but I am a fan of retaining our sovereignty. If the US wants the privilege of suggesting how we should run our country, then perhaps they should work on their end to repair the bilateral relationship. Currently, my vote is to tell them "Mind your own damned business."
Urge what now?<p>Do you know who makes the rules over what I can and can't buy?<p>Yes, that's right. Me.<p>U.S. Lawmakers don't get a say, sorry. I'll buy what I want, thanks.<p>The arrogance is <i>astounding</i>.
China is creepy and Huawei is not reliable.<p>But, for Canada, being overly dependent on the US is much worse. I don't want this country to become a Northern Puerto Rico.