TPG halts work on new mobile network, blaming Australia’s Huawei ban

Telecom says it won't invest further in network that can't be upgraded to 5G

TPG Telecom's $2bn plan to build Australia's newest mobile network looks to be in tatters because of the federal government's ban on using equipment from China's Huawei.

TPG, which in 2017 paid $1.26bn for mobile spectrum and has already spent $100m of the $600m construction cost, said on Tuesday it had opted to use Huawei equipment before the government banned its inclusion in 5G networks on security concerns.