5G technology: US reminds Mauritius of importance of secure network

US warns against Huawei over security concerns For its part, Huawei, a key player in 5G in Mauritius, highlights its contribution to technology development in Africa.

The United States is ready to assist Mauritius in the development of the latest technologies, particularly 5G internet and mobile phone networks. Uncle Sam's Country collaborates with the Government of Mauritius through the Digital Connectivity and Cyber ​​Security Partnership (DCCP) programme. On the other hand, Huawei is a major partner of local telecom operators. Specifically, it provides infrastructure connected to the Internet and mobile phone networks. However, the Chinese company was not well regarded by the US government.

Jennifer Bachus, principal deputy assistant secretary for cyberspace and digital policy at the US State Department, says security concerns with Huawei still persist. “The concerns around Huawei are about security, not US sales. We actually support European and Korean companies such as Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung, because we believe it is best for the sovereignty of a country like Mauritius to have a secure network,” says Jennifer Bachus.

“We're actually seeing security challenges with Huawei, which could be a problem for Mauritius,” said US Ambassador to Mauritius Henry V. Jardine confirms. The latter and Jennifer Bacchus answered questions from journalists following a conference on 5G and emerging technologies at the Le Méridien Hotel in Pointe-aux-Piments on Monday, June 24, 2024.

As a reminder, since 2019, Washington has suspected Huawei of spying on behalf of the Chinese government, which the company has always denied. Huawei is a key player in 5G in Mauritius and around the world. The company highlights its contribution to technological development and expanding economic development, particularly in the region.

“We have established six hardware innovation and training centers in sub-Saharan Africa for innovation and skills transfer. In April 2022, we launched the Talent Development Program (LEAP) in the region with the aim of identifying 100,000 talents in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) within three years to increase the innovative capacity of young Africans. Technologies and innovation are Huawei's core competencies, and we share them with Africa to meet local needs and benefit Africans,” said Yang Chen, Vice President of Technology, Huawei Sub-Saharan Africa in 2022.

Asked by Le Défi Quotidien, Huawei's Mauritian office declined to comment, stating only that “the position of the United States is nothing new.”