Newsletter 
A new study shows that Canada believes Huawei should be banned from Canadian 5G deployment.
Huawei should be banned from 5G deployment, Canada approves
A new Canadian study by the Angus Reid Institute shows that 56-percent of Canadians are in favor of Huawei’s ban from 5G deployment. 34-percent are in favor of Huawei having a smaller role in 5G deployment. 10-percent of Canadians say that Huawei should build the entire Canadian 5G network.
The Canada study by Angus Reid shows that these numbers are due to political persuasion. The most conservative Canadians vote 69-percent against Huawei in 5G (CPC). The Liberal Party opposes Huawei 47-percent, while the NDP and Bloc oppose Huawei 51-percent and 50-percent, respectively. In region voting, BC is against Huawei 63-percent, with AB at 62-percent and SK/MB at 61-percent. Quebec, Canada stands 47-percent against Huawei, the lowest of the six Canadian voting regions.
Despite these high numbers against Huawei’s role in 5G deployment, some believe Huawei should play a role of some kind. Political persuasion plays a role here, too, for the Liberal Party is 45-percent in favor of Huawei’s smaller role in 5G deployment. NDP and Bloc cast a 37-percent vote in favor of a small 5G deployment role for Huawei. The conservative CPC has a 23-percent vote of confidence toward Huawei having a small role in 5G rollout. Whether of any political persuasion or not, between 10-13-percent of Canadians believe Huawei should have as large a role as possible in 5G deployment.
What the numbers show
What do the numbers show? The study shows that the majority of Canadians believe Huawei should not play a part in 5G deployment. Now, while that is true, the study shows only 56-percent want Huawei out of 5G rollout. This means that approximately half the Canadian population wants Huawei to play some role in 5G (even if smaller than before). These numbers show that Canada is in disagreement on the subject of 5G. Conservative political party members and Western residents are more in opposition to Huawei than more liberal political parties and non-western residents.
Canada: the last of the Five Eyes Alliance on the Huawei 5G deployment decision
Currently, Canada is the only country in the Five Eyes Alliance that has yet to decide for or against Huawei’s 5G deployment. The US Huawei ban shows that America under President Donald J. Trump isn’t taking any chances. The US has told its allies to keep Huawei out as well. New Zealand and Australia want Huawei out of their 5G deployments. The UK is the only one in the alliance to approve of Huawei’s role in 5G, even if it is smaller than before (a peripheral 35-percent). UK carrier Vodafone is finally limiting Huawei’s role in its 5G rollout to match the national order. The EU agrees with the UK, though the US is against the decision.
Only Canada remains on the fence in the Five Eyes Alliance. Canada is a strong ally of the US. Canada is complying with US order by handing over Huawei Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Meng Wanzhou. Wanzhou, daughter of Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei, is accused of bank fraud conspiracy. The US Department of Justice (DoJ) filed charges, 13 counts, in New York against Huawei, Wanzhou, and two other Huawei affiliates two weeks ago.
With Huawei’s perception in limbo due to the Wanzhou case, and with Huawei banned in the US, the Canadian study in favor of keeping Huawei out of 5G is understandable.
At the same time, though, one must remember that consumer confidence is one thing, government decision another. The UK decision is a result of technical issues, not consumer confidence, and Canada’s decision will consider the same.