Huawei offers transparency in effort to improve reputation

Firm classed as security threat by US offers Australia unrestricted access to software source code and equipment

Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei, which has been classed as a security threat by several nations including the US, has moved to improve its reputation by offering to give Australia unrestricted access to software source code and equipment.

The US classed Huawei as a risk to national security following a yearlong investigation, while Australia has barred the company from contracts to work on its national broadband network.

"We sincerely hope that in Australia we do not allow sober debate on cyber security to become distorted the way it has in the US," said Huawei Australia chairman John Lord, in a speech to Australia's National Press Club in Canberra.

He went on to admit that the firm, the second largest producer of networking equipment in the world, hasn't done a good job of representing its intentions to governments around the world.

"Huawei has done a very poor job of communicating about ourselves and we must take full responsibility for that. Huawei has a duty to set the record straight, to dispel the myths and the misinformation," Lord said.

The Australia chairman also suggested Huawei set up a cyber security evaluation centre in Australia, funded by a variety of different technology vendors, in order to allow complete transparency about what it does. The company proposed setting up a similar centre in the US.

"No single country, agency, vendor, or telco has all the answers to solving cyber security issues," said Lord.

"It requires a collaborative approach by all to ensure we can create the most secure telecommunications environment possible," he added.

Earlier this month Huawei responded at length to US claims that it represented a security threat, stating the report from a US Congressional Committee "failed to provide clear information or evidence to substantiate the legitimacy of the Committee's concern".

The company plans to open a new UK headquarters in Reading next year.