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China gains control of TnT’s security network
By Irene Medina - October 7th 2011 12:34 AM
Agreement signed at the diplomatic centre
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LOCAL security experts are expressing serious concerns that a multi-billion-dollar telecom giant from China, which has grown in notoriety globally for its cyber attacks in major countries like the United States and Great Britain, is now involving itself in the national security landscape of this country. Reports reaching TnT Mirror read more…
LOCAL security experts are expressing serious concerns that a multi-billion-dollar telecom giant from China, which has grown in notoriety globally for its cyber attacks in major countries like the United States and Great Britain, is now involving itself in the national security landscape of this country.
Reports reaching TnT Mirror indicate that the major ‘spy’ software provider, Huawei (Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.), with the approval of the People’s Partnership Government, is already quietly establishing its presence in the security sector here, through TSTT.
It has been confirmed that a top-level team from Huawei visited Trinidad about one month ago and met with all the heads of the various Ministry of National Security agencies, including the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management and the National Intelligence Agency, at the Special Anti-Crime Unit’s (SAUTT) head office at Riverside Plaza.
It was also learned that while Huawei was always a shoo-in in the sector through its provision of cheap handsets and other services to the state-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), it has renewed its campaign to be more deeply entrenched in TnT.
Among the issues discussed was the possibility of setting up a very modern and sophisticated integrated Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system around the country, and the equipping of TSTT with the necessary software to effectively carry out covert functions, including wiretapping.
But the equipment installed by Huawei does not just allow local security chiefs to monitor criminal and illegal activities, but can also compromise the security of the State and expose it to a foreign entity, Mirror was told.
According to one security expert, “We had warned the Manning administration to steer clear of Huawei and any security deal with China. Their systems are not democratic… they are a Communist state.
“We advised Manning that while there may be no danger from China’s incursions into domestic affairs in the short run, one never knows what could happen over time.”
According to the expert, “Huawei is one of the biggest and most experienced telecom security software providers, and this country runs the risk of exposing its national security systems to a government on the other side of the world. Imagine the implications of that.”
Asked to comment on whether the Chinese, through their installation of equipment, could compromise the security of Trinidad and Tobago, a TSTT official stated that “There is no room for any vendor to unilaterally access our network.”
According to him, “TSTT owns and monitors the equipment that was acquired from Huawei and we have very strict protocol for any activity requiring access to the telecommunications network.”
According to the senior official, TSTT’s monitoring capabilities involves “oversight of any work being done by our vendors such as Huawei, so that we know what the end position of that would be and we monitor the finished work so that it meets all the specifications. “
He further reiterated that there is no room for deviation from the plan by Huawei or any provider.
Questions as to the cost of the contract and what was the tendering process remained unanswered.
Sources pointed out that the People’s Republic of China has been trying to secure a presence in the region for geopolitical reasons, and claimed that the recent State visit by Vice Premier Wang Qishan to attend the Third China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum at the Hyatt Regency Hotel was not by chance.
Regional leaders sang his praises, including Prime Minister Kamla-Persad Bissessar with whose government he signed a $40 million grant. In all, the Vice Premier promised $1 billion for the region’s development.
These were all announced at the end of the visit, including an agreement to sell Lake Asphalt’s bitumen to China. No mention was made by the Government, however, of the purchase of the telecommunications and security equipment from China.
This sudden goodwill by the Chinese government has also manifested itself by the decision to send a Navy Hospital Ship The “Peace Ark” to the Caribbean which set sail on September 16, on a 100-day voyage for the Caribbean countries of Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica as part of a mission dubbed “Harmonious Mission 2011” to provide medical services to local residents, have all raised questions.
The PP Government had been critical of the relationship between the Manning Administration and the Chinese, who provided a cheap labour force in the construction industry. But this relationship seems to be now strengthened at a diplomatic level with the current government and the provision of security hardware and software.
There is growing international concern over the Chinese government’s technological expansion and a Times newspaper report in 2009 revealed British government concern over that country’s vulnerability as a result of technology purchases from China. The British intelligence chiefs, the report said, had warned the government that China, through its installation of equipment in British Telecoms’ network, could shut down Britain by crippling its telecoms and utilities.
Their warning followed a series of cyber attacks on Britain by foreign governments, particularly Russia and China, according to one article which was written on the situation.
Huawei is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, and is the largest China-based networking and telecommunications equipment supplier and the second-largest supplier of mobile telecommunications infrastructure equipment in the world (after Ericsson).
By Irene Medina - October 7th 2011 12:34 AM
Agreement signed at the diplomatic centreComments (4) Email Article Print Share
LOCAL security experts are expressing serious concerns that a multi-billion-dollar telecom giant from China, which has grown in notoriety globally for its cyber attacks in major countries like the United States and Great Britain, is now involving itself in the national security landscape of this country. Reports reaching TnT Mirror read more…
LOCAL security experts are expressing serious concerns that a multi-billion-dollar telecom giant from China, which has grown in notoriety globally for its cyber attacks in major countries like the United States and Great Britain, is now involving itself in the national security landscape of this country.
Reports reaching TnT Mirror indicate that the major ‘spy’ software provider, Huawei (Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.), with the approval of the People’s Partnership Government, is already quietly establishing its presence in the security sector here, through TSTT.
It has been confirmed that a top-level team from Huawei visited Trinidad about one month ago and met with all the heads of the various Ministry of National Security agencies, including the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management and the National Intelligence Agency, at the Special Anti-Crime Unit’s (SAUTT) head office at Riverside Plaza.
It was also learned that while Huawei was always a shoo-in in the sector through its provision of cheap handsets and other services to the state-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), it has renewed its campaign to be more deeply entrenched in TnT.
Among the issues discussed was the possibility of setting up a very modern and sophisticated integrated Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system around the country, and the equipping of TSTT with the necessary software to effectively carry out covert functions, including wiretapping.
But the equipment installed by Huawei does not just allow local security chiefs to monitor criminal and illegal activities, but can also compromise the security of the State and expose it to a foreign entity, Mirror was told.
According to one security expert, “We had warned the Manning administration to steer clear of Huawei and any security deal with China. Their systems are not democratic… they are a Communist state.
“We advised Manning that while there may be no danger from China’s incursions into domestic affairs in the short run, one never knows what could happen over time.”
According to the expert, “Huawei is one of the biggest and most experienced telecom security software providers, and this country runs the risk of exposing its national security systems to a government on the other side of the world. Imagine the implications of that.”
Asked to comment on whether the Chinese, through their installation of equipment, could compromise the security of Trinidad and Tobago, a TSTT official stated that “There is no room for any vendor to unilaterally access our network.”
According to him, “TSTT owns and monitors the equipment that was acquired from Huawei and we have very strict protocol for any activity requiring access to the telecommunications network.”
According to the senior official, TSTT’s monitoring capabilities involves “oversight of any work being done by our vendors such as Huawei, so that we know what the end position of that would be and we monitor the finished work so that it meets all the specifications. “
He further reiterated that there is no room for deviation from the plan by Huawei or any provider.
Questions as to the cost of the contract and what was the tendering process remained unanswered.
Sources pointed out that the People’s Republic of China has been trying to secure a presence in the region for geopolitical reasons, and claimed that the recent State visit by Vice Premier Wang Qishan to attend the Third China-Caribbean Economic and Trade Co-operation Forum at the Hyatt Regency Hotel was not by chance.
Regional leaders sang his praises, including Prime Minister Kamla-Persad Bissessar with whose government he signed a $40 million grant. In all, the Vice Premier promised $1 billion for the region’s development.
These were all announced at the end of the visit, including an agreement to sell Lake Asphalt’s bitumen to China. No mention was made by the Government, however, of the purchase of the telecommunications and security equipment from China.
This sudden goodwill by the Chinese government has also manifested itself by the decision to send a Navy Hospital Ship The “Peace Ark” to the Caribbean which set sail on September 16, on a 100-day voyage for the Caribbean countries of Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica as part of a mission dubbed “Harmonious Mission 2011” to provide medical services to local residents, have all raised questions.
The PP Government had been critical of the relationship between the Manning Administration and the Chinese, who provided a cheap labour force in the construction industry. But this relationship seems to be now strengthened at a diplomatic level with the current government and the provision of security hardware and software.
There is growing international concern over the Chinese government’s technological expansion and a Times newspaper report in 2009 revealed British government concern over that country’s vulnerability as a result of technology purchases from China. The British intelligence chiefs, the report said, had warned the government that China, through its installation of equipment in British Telecoms’ network, could shut down Britain by crippling its telecoms and utilities.
Their warning followed a series of cyber attacks on Britain by foreign governments, particularly Russia and China, according to one article which was written on the situation.
Huawei is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, and is the largest China-based networking and telecommunications equipment supplier and the second-largest supplier of mobile telecommunications infrastructure equipment in the world (after Ericsson).
Play one Babylon off gainst di nex one yes... Geopolitricks tuh di Werl!!
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