NEW Huawei equipment in the UK’s new 5G network will be banned from September risking a fresh row with Beijing.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden will announce on Monday that the Chinese tech firm’s equipment will be bandied from September next year.
Beijing has already hit out at the UK decision to strip out its tech from the network after US President Donald Trump issued sanctions against the firm.
As part of the plans he will outline a new trial of Japanese tech – in a bid to fast track and diversify the telecoms market to avoid using Chinese run tech in the future.
The equipment, made by NEC will be piloted in Wales and is part of a £250m fund to widen the 5G market.
Culture Sec Oliver Dowden said: “I am setting out a clear path for the complete removal of high risk vendors from our 5G networks.
‘WAVE OF INNOVATION’
“This will be done through new and unprecedented powers to identify and ban telecoms equipment which poses a threat to our national security.
“We are also publishing a new strategy to make sure we are never again dependent on a handful of telecoms vendors for the smooth and secure running of our networks.
“Our plans will spark a wave of innovation in the design of our future mobile networks.”
Lord Livingston, Chair of the Diversification Task Force added: “Diversification of the UK Telecoms Supply Chain is very important to ensure that our future networks are secure and resilient and that we can maximise the economic and social potential that 5G brings.”
Tory MP Bob Seely said: “This cut-off date for Huawei 5G installation should realistically end Huawei’s attempts to maintain a foothold in the 5G market.
“It’s difficult to see how they will come back from this.
“This is a very good result for those several dozen Conservative MPs from the Huawei Interest Group who have campaigned on this issue and for the 38 who voted against Huawei back in March.
“Clarity is good for the industry. I look forward to hearing about plans to help encourage new providers into the UK telecoms market.”
