Government allows Huawei restricted access to UK 5G network

Homeland January 31, 2020

The government has agreed to allow Chinese company Huawei to construct part of the UK’s 5G network with certain limitations.

The government has announced that Huawei will be able to run part of the UK’s 5G network following the Telecoms Supply Chain Review. Security concerns over Huawei’s links to the Chinese government have led to many countries restricting or prohibiting Huawei 5G infrastructure.

High-risk vendors to be excluded from sensitive ‘core’ parts of 5G and gigabit-capable networks. A 35 per cent cap will prevent high-risk vendor access to non-sensitive parts of the network.

Telecoms Cyber Security Expert at Positive Technologies, Jimmy Jones, said: “In spite of the persistent pressure from the US, it is not surprising that the UK has finally taken the decision to maintain Huawei technology as part of the nation’s 5G infrastructure – with certain restrictions. Huawei has been designated a “high risk” vendor and as such will be excluded from “core” parts of the network and limited to 35 percent access to non-sensitive parts of the network. However, it will still participate in the infrastructure for 5G.”

“Whilst the US has taken a more hard-line stance, the reality is that a lot of the major UK operators (Vodafone, EE and Three) have already purchased Huawei’s 5G infrastructure which means a ban would have more impact in the UK than the US. If Huawei was taken away as an option, this whole process – including testing – would have to be started all over again. Ultimately any country that does that is facing a more expensive network and a delay that could result in its national infrastructure being inferior compared to other countries.”

“Although it’s hard to ignore the geopolitical debates which continue to make headlines, it’s also important to recognise the commercial implications of shunning Huawei, which when compared to other suppliers, is way ahead. Huawei has been pioneering 5G dating back to 2009 and because of this development time, along with the sheer engineering resources that Huawei has put behind it, it makes it the best-placed supplier to deliver it. Overall, the UK has taken the decision not to give its economy a technological and financial handicap against fast-developing nations who have already chosen to use Huawei.”

The recommended cap of 35 per cent will be kept under review to determine whether it should be further reduced as the market diversifies. The TSRs (Telecoms Supply Chain Review) will raise the height of the security bar by setting out to telecoms operators – overseen by Ofcom and the government – the way to design and manage their networks to meet tough new standards.

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