Huawei Technologies announced Monday that its bid to participate in the Australia’s US$38 billion National Broadbank Network program has been blocked due to security concerns, Reuters reported. Australia’s Attorney-General department rejected the company’s tender on the advice of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization. Huawei, the world’s second-largest telecommunications equipment maker, was seeking a supply contract worth up to US$1.04 billion for the massive NBN project, which aims to provide 93% of Australian homes and workplaces with broadband capability. The former role of Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei as a People’s Liberation Army officer has fueled speculation that Huawei acts based on orders from the Chinese government, a claim Huawei denies. “While we’re obviously disappointed by the decision, Huawei will continue to be open and transparent and work to find ways of providing assurance around the security of our technology,” Huawei said in a separate written statement.
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