Question Period Note: Fifth Generation Wireless Networks (5G)

The multi-year deployment of 5G technology in Canadian telecommunications systems will begin in 2020 and will have associated security concerns.

• The safety and security of Canadians is of paramount concern, and we will make appropriate decisions regarding 5G technology in due course.
• The Government is carefully examining the security challenges and potential threats involved in 5G technology while recognizing the importance it will have for the continued development of our connected and digital economy.
• The Government’s technical, economic, foreign policy, and security experts are all involved in this examination which will determine the best way to maximize the many social and economic opportunities of 5G for Canadians while minimizing the risks.
If pressed on the security of current networks:
• The Government of Canada takes the security of Canada’s telecommunications networks seriously. Since 2013, the Canadian Security Review Program has worked to mitigate the cyber security risks stemming from designated equipment and services, including Huawei in 3G/4G and LTE networks.
• The Government will continue to work with telecommunications service providers and vendors to mitigate security risks in current and future networks as 5G technology is adopted by Canadians.

5G
Wireless networks are the modern infrastructure on which the global data driven economy is built. The global telecommunications sector is undergoing a transition from fourth generation wireless technology to fifth generation (5G). 5G networks will operate at significantly higher speeds and will provide greater versatility, capability, and complexity than previous generations. As a result, 5G networks will become a crucial component of Canada’s critical infrastructure. The full implementation of 5G in Canada’s federally regulated wireless telecommunications sector will take several years beginning with the 5G spectrum auction in 2020.

It is anticipated that 5G technology will enable applications and innovations that will provide many new economic opportunities for Canada such as those associated with the Internet of Things, smart cities, connected and automated vehicles, and remote surgeries. However, in order to leverage this opportunity for economic growth through 5G, the safety and security of the technology must be ensured.

Incidents resulting from the exploitation of vulnerabilities by malicious actors will be more difficult to safeguard against, and could have a broader impact than in previous generations of wireless technology.

The Government of Canada is conducting an ongoing examination of emerging 5G technology and the associated economic opportunities and security risks. Particular consideration is being afforded to the foreign relations, economic, national security, and technical implications. Public Safety Canada (PS), Innovation, Science and Industry Canada (ISIC), the Communications Security Establishment (CSE), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Department of National Defence (DND), Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and the Privy Council Office (PCO) have been working closely to consider every possible dimension to this complex situation.

International

The security of 5G wireless networks has been at the forefront of domestic and international media stories. Canada’s Five Eyes partners have all made public announcements on how they plan to protect 5G wireless telecommunications networks. These policies range in specificity from the naming of specific entities to generic statements of intent to bolster security.

The United States has been Canada’s most vocal partner, strongly encouraging countries to carefully weigh the security considerations of 5G technology. Outside of the Five Eyes, several likeminded countries are also carefully considering what equipment will provide acceptable levels of security for their network infrastructure.

Current Network Security

In the context of current 3G/4G/LTE networks, a Canadian Security Review Program is in place to mitigate cyber security risks. CSE actively engages with Canadian TSPs and equipment vendors to help ensure the security of today’s existing Canadian telecommunications infrastructure.

The program has been in place since 2013, and has helped mitigate risks stemming from designated equipment and services under consideration for use in Canadian 3G/4G/LTE telecommunications networks, including Huawei. To date, this program has led to:

• excluding designated equipment in sensitive areas of Canadian networks;
• mandatory assurance testing in independent third-party laboratories for designated equipment before use in less sensitive areas of Canadian networks; and,
• restricting outsourced managed services across government networks and other Canadian critical networks.

As the Government prepares for the implementation of 5G infrastructure in Canada, the expertise and experience developed through the Security Review Program will be important in assessing cyber threats and risks of emerging technology.

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