Existing 4G network vulnerable to attack through Huawei

The existing 4G network will be vulnerable years after the 5G network is rolled out, with fears critical infrastructure could be targeted through Chinese-owned technology giant Huawei.

The logo of Huawei stands on its office building at the research and development centre in Dongguan in south China's Guangdong province. Australia and New Zealand have barred Huawei as a supplier for fifth-generation networks, joining the US and Taiwan. Picture: AP

The existing 4G network will remain vulnerable to cyberattack years after the 5G network is rolled out, with concerns that critical infrastructure could be targeted through Chinese-owned technology giant Huawei.

The federal government has banned Huawei from the coming 5G network over fears of espionage, yet has not issued hard warnings to state agencies already using Huawei’s 4G technology.

Huawei’s 4G communications equipment is embedded throughout NSW RailCorp’s entire metro network and infrastructure nationwide, raising concerns China could cause disruptions by remote control in the event of a conflict.

It has been reported in recent days that Britain’s Home Office has ordered that all Huawei 4G technology be stripped from police and emergency services, over fears the company is under the full control of the Chinese government.

While 5G will rollout in 2020, the take-up will not be immediate and 4G will exist side-by-side with 5G for years to come (even the antiquated 3G network will not be fully phased out until 2020).

The Times of London last night reported that Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson was the first UK cabinet minister to directly speak out against Huawei becoming involved in its 5G network.

“I have grave, very deep concerns about Huawei providing the 5G network in Britain,” he was reported as saying. “It’s something we’d have to look at very closely. We’ve got to look at what partners such as Australia and the US are doing in order to ensure that they have the maximum security of that 5G network and we’ve got to recognise the fact, as has been recently exposed, that the Chinese state does sometimes act in a malign way.”

Leading UK telecommunications provider BT has said it will not use Huawei in its 5G network but the government is yet to announce a total ban.

High-speed 5G will usher in a new era of technology, including autonomous vehicles which could be vulnerable to sabotage. The so-called “internet of things” — blanket connectivity on everyday devices — will mean greater opportunity for the cyber pirates.

Risks are already present within 4G, yet have not attracted the same level of concern.

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said it had received no advice from the federal government or its security agencies that it should be concerned about the Huawei technology it uses to control trains.

“We are not in receipt of any specific advice from State or Commonwealth agencies about specific technology vendors,” said a spokesperson.

“Beyond this, Transport for NSW will not comment in more detail on security issues.”

Charles Sturt University’s Professor Clive Hamilton, who has detailed Chinese infiltration into Australia in his book “Silent Invasion”, said the federal government needed to be more active.

“It’s time the federal government gave explicit warnings to state governments about protecting infrastructure much more carefully,” he said.

“After all, the states control the infrastructure for the most part. If the British government is ripping Huawei equipment from vital communications networks, then Australia should do the same.”

The federal government refuses to comment on Huawei by name.

Originally published as Existing 4G network vulnerable to attack through Huawei