Huawei CTO says 'there's no back door' on questions of 5G security
14 November, 2020
To comprehend the potential of fifth-generation (5G) telecoms networks is to comprehend the trajectory of growth in the global economy in the 21st century. The next-generation wireless network will underpin widespread usage of linked devices and autonomous systems - the infrastructure of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Already in China, there are at least 180 million persons linked to 5G. The network is also prevalent in 37 other countries - or around 12 % of the world’s phones.
Leading the charge in developing 5G is Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.
Paul Scanlan, CTO at Huawei, joins co-hosts Mustafa Alrawi and Kelsey Warner this week to speak about the potential of 5G, address security and look to the continuing future of what this technology means to society.
He says Huawei’s dominance is no accident: “We spend more on R&D compared to the sum of most our competitors” with a concentrate on developing intellectual property, particularly in materials science - a key component for rolling out 5G networks.
But in the last year, the Trump administration has made efforts to avoid most US companies from conducting business with Huawei, the world’s biggest telecoms equipment vendor, citing national security concerns.
IN-MAY, Washington announced rules aimed at constricting Huawei’s capability to procure chips featuring US technology for use in 5G telecommunications network equipment. Numerous countries also have made moves to block Huawei from providing 5G infrastructure, like the UK, Sweden, Australia, Canada and Japan.
Huawei has repeatedly denied being truly a security risk.
Mr Scanlan insists “there’s no back door”.
"We do things differently. We're not a public listed company. We're a private company that made $122 billion [last year]."
He advocates for a public audit of the company’s systems and a documentation that they are secure. He adds that during the last decade, the company has made all of its source code designed for inspection by specialists.
“We are promoting actively a concept where [we] have independent audit and certification,” he says.
“You will want product from any vendor? That's why Ericsson, Nokia doesn't matter. Cisco doesn't matter. If you use that product in your country, there's a qualification body, there's an authorising body.
“Now test everything. If it passes all of the tests, then it could be certified.”
In this episode
- Let's talk 5G! (0m 43s)
- Living with 5G (5m 32s)
- How does market leadership happen? (9m 24s)
- What makes China a different market (15m 00s)
- Trump and a fresh administration (20m 13s)
- 5G security and Huawei (21m 58s)
- Headlines (25m 20s)
Source: www.thenationalnews.com