Just days before it officially leaves the European Union, the United Kingdom is said to be leaning strongly towards allowing Huawei to participate in its 5G rollout.
Since 2019, the UK has seen a staggered launch of 5G networks with companies like EE being the first to launch on May 30, 2019. Huawei advances to the UK has however raised more than a few eyebrows, giving the US position on the company.
The UK government has however green light the use of Huawei equipment in such networks.
“There is no reason why we shouldn’t have technological progress here in the UK, allow consumers, businesses in the UK to have access to fantastic technology, to fantastic communications but also protect our security interests and protect our key partnerships with other security powers around the world,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in reply to a reporter’s question on Huawei.
UK’s telecoms companies have been using Huawei in its networks for the past 15 years, during which the world’s largest telecom equipment supplier kept a proven clear cybersecurity track record.
The US administration has been trying to convince its allies not to allow the Chinese tech giant to form their 5G networks, claiming it would be a security risk. So far the country is yet to provide evidence that this is the case.
As part of its due diligence, the British Government has full access to evaluate Huawei product ranges through Cyber Security and Evaluation Centre, opened in the country in 2010. The oversight board of the facility is chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre with members from the government including Government Communications Headquarters, as well as the UK telecommunications sector.
UK security agencies believe they have managed security concerns around the Chinese supplier so far and will be able to do so with the 5G network.
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