Spark New Zealand keeps Huawei on preferred suppliers list, but leads 5G rollout with Nokia

NEW DELHI: Spark New Zealand Ltd said on Monday it abandoned plans to rely on China’s Huawei exclusively for the rollout of 5G services but would keep it as part of a three-company preferred list of equipment suppliers.

The telecom and digital services provider said it would kick off its 5G rollout with Nokia – for which it has New Zealand government approval – as part of its staged-approach strategy.

Spark said Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Huawei completed its three-company preferred list of suppliers. It has not yet submitted applications, however, for the use of Huawei or Samsung equipment.