Overlooked Huawei still keen for Aussie opportunities

The Australian head of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei says there are still big opportunities in Australia, despite the company being ruled out of contention for contracts with the national broadband network (NBN).

Huawei Australia chairman John Lord says he agrees the “central core” of the NBN should not go to an overseas company in the interests of national security.

But there are still opportunities in Australia for Huawei to explore, including other aspects of the NBN, Lord told ABC television yesterday.

“Our argument will always be that there is core parts of the national infrastructure that companies like us would not expect to be in,” Lord said.

“We would still argue that there’s parts of the NBN that are perhaps suitable.

“What hangs off the national telecommunications infrastructure is where the real market is in the future.”

The Australian government’s decision to exclude Huawei from the NBN was criticised in Beijing.

“We hope competent authorities of Australia will provide a level and indiscriminate market environment for Chinese companies instead of wearing coloured glasses and obstructing Chinese companies’ normal operations in Australia in the name of security,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.