Canada has announced that Huawei and ZTE’s 5G equipment would be banned due to national security concerns.

The move comes after the Trump administration imposed a ban on Huawei’s telecom equipment in the United States, with the United Kingdom following suit. Following the Canadian government’s decision, cellular providers in the nation would be forbidden from deploying Huawei and ZTE-made 5G network equipment.

The Canadian government has gone a step farther than simply enforcing its prohibition in the future, ordering that all current 5G telecom equipment supplied by the two corporations be removed by June 28, 2024. The order also includes 4G communications equipment.

With its decision to take action against Huawei’s 5G equipment, Canada joins the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing cooperative, which comprises Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, in imposing a blanket ban.

In 2018, Australia imposed a 5G ban on Huawei, and New Zealand followed suit in 2019.

Francois-Phillipe Champagne, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, stated in an official statement that the decision assures the long-term security of the country’s communications infrastructure.

According to the statement, the decision was reached after “a comprehensive evaluation by our independent security agencies and discussions with our closest friends.”

The Canadian government claims to have undertaken a thorough investigation into 5G technology and concluded that, despite its benefits, the next-generation cellular technology introduces significant security risks.