31st Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Telecom/Infrastructure

Hon. Nathan Simington stressed that 5G is no longer just a telecom issue but a core industrial and national security technology. While consumer 5G revenues have lagged, industrial applications in factories, ports, mining, and logistics have expanded rapidly  particularly in China, where Huawei has deployed large-scale private industrial networks.

He explained that Huawei’s strength lies in offering integrated, state-backed solutions that combine telecom infrastructure, software, and industrial platforms, allowing seamless automation and data control. This integration gives China strategic advantages in global supply chains and industrial intelligence.

Simington warned that Chinese dominance in global telecom infrastructure creates economic and security vulnerabilities, including potential risks to critical infrastructure. He urged the United States to adopt a whole-of-government national security strategy and develop competitive, integrated Western alternatives rather than relying on regulatory measures alone.