The UK may reverse the decision it made allow Huawei as a supplier for the country’s 5G network build-out after a report concluded that US sanctions would make the Chinese telecom giant’s equipment less safe.
According to the report from GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre, the restrictions on Huawei’s operations “will force the company to use entrusted technology that could increase the risk to the UK.”
The report “is likely to force Boris Johnson to abandon the company entirely”. According to a source, the British prime minister is preparing to phase out Huawei as soon as this year, although the exact timetable is reportedly yet to be confirmed.
“We are considering the impact the US’ additional sanctions against Huawei could have on UK networks,” the UK government says in a statement. “This is an ongoing process and we will update further in due course.”
The UK went ahead with plans that included Huawei as a supplier of 5G infrastructure earlier this year, despite pressure from the US.
Huawei was only to be used for “non-core” elements of the network, and would be limited to providing 35% of supply. Johnson had argued that there were a lack of viable alternatives to Huawei technology, which is already widely prevalent in British communications networks.
“We are working closely with our customers to find ways of managing the proposed U.S. restrictions so the UK can maintain its current lead in 5G,” says Huawei VP Victor Zhang in a statement to Bloomberg. “We believe it is too early to determine the impact of the proposed restrictions, which are not about security, but about market position.”
