An offer to pay for a cybersecurity evaluation centre controlled by the GCSB is Huawei's latest proposal as it seeks to win its way back into New Zealand's lucrative 5G network contract market.

In November, Andrew Little, the Minster of Justice turned down Spark's proposed use of Huawei technology in the company's 5G network. He said it would raise significant national security risks. This followed a Government Communications Security Bureau assessment.

There have also been suggestions from the USA that the company's technology is used by China to spy on other countries. Earlier this month a Huawei employee was arrested in Poland on spying charges.

Investing millions

Tom Pullar-Strecker at Stuff reports the Chinese company could invest millions in the centre. If built, the centre would allow Government Communications Security Bureau officials to check Huawei kit before it is installed in key telecommunications networks.

A similar arrangement is already operating in Britain where Huawei pays for a cybersecurity evaluation centre that's overseen by the UK's National Cyber Security Centre.

Pullar-Strecker's story says GCSB director-general Andrew Hampton is aware of the British centre, but had a cool response to the local plan. So far the GCSB had turned down Huawei's requests for discussions.

Cloud growth set to continue

IDC's New Zealand IT Services Forecast and Analysis, 2018-2023 report says IT service revenue, which mainly means cloud computing, will grow at 2.8 percent a year between now and 2023.

In that year the market will be worth $3.96 billion. The research company says the continued growth in cloud computing is fuelled by New Zealand organisations looking for competitive advantage.

Much of the growth will come as companies move from using cloud for optimisation to finding ways to beat competitors. IDC also sees the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence as important sources of growth.

TCF pushes phone recycling

The Telecommunications Forum wants consumers to recycle old mobile phones using its Re:Mobile programme. The programme allows people to return phones to any Spark, 2degrees or Vodafone store.

TCF chief executive Geoff Thorn says this scheme returns up to 100 percent of the precious metals, rare elements and heavy earth. That way the materials can be used to build new devices. It's important because the minerals in phones are mined at a high environmental cost.

Thorn also points to the risks of throwing phones into kerbside rubbish collection; their lithium batteries can cause explosions.

Aue takes reins at 2degrees

2degrees chief financial officer Mark Aue has moved to take over as chief executive. He replaces Stewart Sherriff who leaves after five years in charge of the business.

Aue is new to 2degrees, he joined in the middle of last year from Vodafone NZ where he also worked as the chief financial officer. He also worked for Vodafone in Britain and Fiji.

Enable, Ultrafast, Northpower reveal unbundling plans

Enable, Ultrafast Fibre and Northpower have released a joint plan for layer one wholesale fibre services. By law all fibre companies must offer wholesale services from the start of next year.

KotahiNet recognised at Mobile World Congress

New Zealand's KotahiNet is one of 20 Internet of Things World Cup finalists which takes place next month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It's the only company from outside of Europe and North America in the final.

The company will be showing its EnLive monitor, a self-contained, floating device for the continuous monitoring of river water quality. Data from the monitor is available immediately unlike alternative systems which can take days or weeks to gather data.

Hawaiki extends reach with PacketFabric

Hawaiki, the trans-Pacific submarine cable network has partnered with PacificFabric, a business that offers software defined network connectivity to data centres and co-location hubs in North America and Europe. The deal extends Hawaiki's reach and allows PacificFabric to expand into Australia and New Zealand. It will create new points of presence in Auckland and Sydney.

Tonga's cut cable gets satellite relief

Satellite company Kacific says its Ku-band network has been deployed as a back-up after the only submarine cable connecting Tonga was cut. The outage could last for some time as a date has not yet been set for a fix.