Government approves 'limited' role for Huawei in 5G rollout

The government has approved a limited role for Huawei in the rollout of the UK’s 5G network, overruling opposition from Washington and a number of senior Conservative MPs.

The nine-member UK National Security Council on Tuesday approved Huawei’s involvement but said the Chinese company’s market share must be limited to 35%. It also excluded its equipment from the most sensitive “core” parts of the network.

Huawei Vice-president Victor Zhang welcome the decision, saying: “Huawei is reassured by the UK’s government’s confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track.

“We agree a diverse vendor market and fair competition are essential for network reliability and innovation, as well as ensuring consumers have access to the best possible technology.”

But Washington was expected to react angrily. Donald Trump’s administration, along with Home Secretary Priti Patel and Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, believe Huawei is vulnerable to interference from the Chinese state, and that its involvement with essential technology and infrastructure poses a security risk.

Prime minister Boris Johnson was understood to want to balance Huawei’s involvement with the need to ensure good relations with the US, as negotiations for a post-Brexit trade deal with America gear up. Huawei’s technology is more advanced than that of most of its rivals, making it the most cost-effective option. Completely curtailing its involvement would also risk lengthy delays.

Baroness Morgan, the government’s digital secretary, said: “High-risk vendors never have been, and never will be, in our most sensitive networks.

“The government has reviewed the supply chain for telecoms networks and concluded today it is necessary to have tight restrictions on the presence of high risk vendors.

“It not only paves the way for secure and resilient networks, with our sovereignty over data protected, but is also builds on our strategy to develop a diversity of suppliers.”

National Cyber Security Centre chief executive Ciaran Martin said advice had been issued to telecoms network operators “to help with the industry roll-out of 5G and full-fibre networks, in line with the governments objectives.”