UK Bans Huawei's 5G Network Infrastructure Development

Huawei illustration (doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The British telecommunications company prohibits Huawei from participating in the 5G Project in the country. Where they want to clean the 5G internet network infrastructure from companies from China, after September 2021.

Launching Channel News Asia, the UK government has ordered all Huawei equipment removed from its 5G network by the end of 2027. This is in line with allies, including the United States, who say the company poses a security risk.

China has criticized the decision, while last week Huawei said it was disappointed Britain was trying to exclude it from the 5G rollout after the issuance of new laws that could see companies fined 100,000 pounds if they violate the ban.

The announcement comes ahead of a debate on a new telecommunications law in parliament, as well as setting a timetable for equipment removal.

"I set a clear path for the complete removal of high-risk vendors from our 5G network," said digital minister Oliver Dowden.

"This will be done through new and unprecedented powers to identify and ban telecommunications equipment that threatens our national security," he added.

So far the British government has asked Japan to help build a 5G internet network as a further step in the global technology and security war between the United States and China. The two Japanese companies appointed, NEC Corp and Fujitsu Ltd, are potential alternative suppliers to replace Huawei.

Britain said its decision in July was linked to concerns that US sanctions on chip technology could affect supply lines. Huawei at the time said the decision was disappointing, and it was more about US trade policy than on security issues.