TPG Telecom executive chairman and CEO David Teoh.Credit:Daniel Munoz
TPG had used Huawei equipment since announcing the launch of the country's fourth network in April 2017,with hopes its small-cell technology could be quickly upgraded to 5G in the future.
This plan no longer works under a widespread ban on Huawei,Mr Teoh said,with the government's decision making his long-term strategy"impossible".
“We did go through the process in the last few months to look at all the implications of the government ban. Now,Huawei 4G networks can’t connect to any 5G network,"he said.
“We understand from the government’s side it’s impossible.[On a] Huawei 4G network you cannot connect even a piece of wire to any 5G network. It is impossible. It is a very serious issue.”
Mr Teoh also thinks other telcos have been hard-hit by the decision.
"Everyone is affected,everyone,"Mr Teoh said.
"I think if you ask them,everyone has to replace them. They have to,"he said,"You cannot connect the Huawei 4G to the 5G at all."