- The company will be excluded from “security-critical” core areas
- It will be allowed to account for 35 per cent of the kit in a network’s periphery
Britain has announced that it will allow Huawei to build its 5G networks with some restrictions. There has been pressure from the US to block the company due to security concerns.
A statement from the government said that mobile operators in the UK will be able to use Huawei equipment in their 5G networks. It also added that the company will be excluded from “security-critical” core areas. Huawei will not be allowed to supply kit to “sensitive parts” of the network called the core. It will be allowed to account for 35 per cent of the kit in a network’s periphery. This will include radio masts as well. Huawei will also be excluded from areas near British military bases and nuclear sites.
India gave a nod to Huawei too
Recently, India said that it will allocate airwaves to all telecom service providers for conducting trials of 5G networks. A top European Union official said that the bloc will not ban Huawei or any other company in Europe.
There has been a public debate in the country for months over how to respond to the concerns raised by the US about security risks. The US administration has been pressurising for a total ban on Huawei products. It has been alleging that Beijing can use the equipment for snooping.
5G rollout on track
Huawei’s UK chief Victor Zhang said in a statement after the government announced its decision that Huawei is reassured by the UK government”s confirmation. The company will continue working with its customers to keep the 5G rollout on track. He added that this decision gives the UK access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market.
