ForbesThe US and other countries restrict Huawei in 5G (even providing funding to “rip and replace” the equipment), but this does not stop the company from deploying in Wi-Fi networks. Once a device is deployed in Wi-Fi, it can’t be forcibly recalled for security reasons. Huawei touts its role in Wi-Fi 6, considered the future-proofing strategy for the Wi-Fi industry.
The Austin-based Wi-Fi Alliance recently honored top tier member Huawei for its leadership in the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ program, allowing its products to be embossed with the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal. The advocacy group recently congratulated Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai for the April 23 vote to designate 1200 MHz of the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, quintupling the spectrum for technologies such as Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi Alliance did not respond to a request for comment.
Roslyn Layton , April 23, 2020
Article Introduction
Among the 800 members of the Wi-Fi Alliance are many firms owned and affiliated with the Chinese government and listed in the US National Vulnerabilities Database, restricting their use in the federal government. These member firms include Wi-Fi Alliance honoree Lenovo, world’s leading maker of laptops, ZTE Corporation (network equipment), Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd. (surveillance cameras), Lexmark (printers), and TCL Corporation (smart TVs).
My report Stealing from the States: China’s Power Play in IT Contracts documents how such companies have evaded rules against their deployment in US federal networks to embed themselves at the state level, home to treasure troves of sensitive data for elections, financial reports, and personal information but which have fewer security controls.