Australia: Issued 5G Security Guidance to Australian Carriers including warning of vendors subject to foreign government directions

On 23 August 2018, the Australian Government issued a “5G Security Guidance to Australian Carriers” highlighting the importance of safeguarding the security of Australians' information and communications, and the integrity and availability of the networks themselves. In particular, the Government stated that it considered that the involvement of vendors who are likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law, could risk failure by the carrier to adequately protect a 5G network from unauthorised access or interference.