Indonesia leaves 5G airwave door open for Huawei

Bloomberg

Indonesia is preparing to auction additional airwaves to telecom carriers to allow them offer 5G services and will ensure a level-playing field to wireless equipment suppliers including Huawei Technologies Co.
The government is taking steps to guarantee adequate spectrum will be available for mobile-phone carriers before deciding on a schedule for the sale, Communications Minister Johnny G Plate said in an interview. While some carriers have been conducting trials of 5G services, there’s no deadline for them to begin commercial services, he said.
Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest market for telecom services, will be guided only by “its national interest” in deciding on technology and equipment vendors for 5G services, Plate said. The minister dismissed concerns of Huawei equipment being used to snoop on China’s behalf, a charge levelled by the US in the blacklisting of the firm, saying “everyone is spying on each other these days.”
Huawei has repeatedly denied allegations that it’s aiding Beijing in spying. The US has also curbed sales of technology that Huawei has used in some of its phones and telecommunications equipment, creating the risk that customers of the company won’t be able to update software in its devices.
“For the interest of Indonesians, we’re open to everyone and committed to providing a level-playing field,” said Plate, who was appointed to the job last month by President Joko Widodo.
“The US must have its reasons for not liking Huawei. Indonesia may not share similar concerns with the US, as well as with China.
We are open to anyone, both bilaterally and multilaterally.”
Huawei, the largest Chinese technology company, has been one of the key equipment suppliers for Indonesian carriers.

Taiwan suspends selling 3 Huawei phones that identify it as part of China
Bloomberg

Taiwan suspended sales of three Huawei Technologies Co smartphone models that identify Taiwan as part of China, striking a fresh blow in a long-running conflict over references to sovereignty.
Phone carriers were ordered to stop offering Huawei’s P30, P3O Pro and Nova 5T models because their displays included the words “Taiwan, China” for time zones and contacts, said Peter Niou, a deputy director at the National Communications Commission in Taipei. The reference impairs Taiwan’s “national dignity,” Niou said.