Huawei and ZTE, China’s leading telecommunications companies, have been banned from providing 5G equipment to Australia over national security concerns.

The firms are under suspicion for enabling Chinese interference and hacking of networks in foreign territories.

Chinese law requires companies to cooperate with intelligence officials. Critics say this could place Huawei and ZTE equipment at risk of being used as tools for spying.

However, Beijing has dismissed the concerns as an “excuse” to prevent Chinese firms from winning lucrative contracts abroad.

Australia's ban follows similar concerns made about the companies in the UK.