Spy fears after Far East firm with alleged links to Chinese military

Security experts have voiced concern after Business Secretary Vince Cable backed a giant Chinese company that is bidding to build a mobile phone network on the London Underground.

The deal between telecoms giant Huawei – accused of having links with the Chinese military – and London Underground is set to be cleared by Ministers.

It would mean passengers could use mobiles on the Tube by the time of the 2012 Olympic Games.

But cyber and telecom experts warned Huawei represented a potential spying threat and claim the equipment installed could be used to hack into mobile calls or even shut off telephone exchanges.

US officials have already claimed that the company could jeopardise national security.
They also raised concerns over the founder of the company, Ren Zhenfei, a former member of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.

The technology that Huawei sells is used by telecoms networks all over the world, including in India and the Middle East.

The company has annual revenues of about £14 billion and employs 100,000 people worldwide. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said Mr Cable had not raised any objections to the deal.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk