With a contentious race to lead in 5G underway, the Chinese technology giant seeks to assuage concerns about the security of its network gear.
At a recent press conference at Huawei’s offices in Dongguan, where it welcomed journalists from the U.S., Europe and Asia, the company announced plans to invest $2 billion in cybersecurity over the next five years. This will include adding more people as well as upgrading facilities. The press conference was part of a public relations campaign Huawei has launched to help fend off accusations that it is a security risk.
The emergence of 5G has heightened security concerns worldwide, as the next-generation mobile technology will enable new applications and figure prominently in the Internet of Things (IoT). Governments are increasingly viewing telecoms networks as strategic national assets, and 5G will support a vast expansion of telecoms networks, connecting things like power plants, self-driving cars, medical devices and robots used in industrial settings.
The U.S., Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand are blocking Huawei from building 5G networks, contending that they could be used to facilitate spying on the part of the Chinese government. Other countries, including Japan and France, are reportedly imposing limitations on the Chinese technology giant. Huawei has repeatedly said that Beijing has no influence over it.
Huawei is the world’s biggest supplier of telecommunications network equipment and second-biggest maker of smartphones. It is a leader in 5G development despite mounting hostilities, but the company is concerned that further restrictions could lessen its share in a 5G market which analysts say could be worth $20 billion a year by 2022. Unlike other big Chinese technology firms, Huawei derives half its revenue from overseas, according to Reuters.
“Locking out competitors from a playing field cannot make yourself better. We think any concerns or allegations on security at Huawei should be based on factual evidence”, said rotating chairman Ken Hu. “Without factual evidence we don’t accept and we oppose those allegations.”
