Chinese telecom major Hauwei no longer a player in UK's 5G market.
Britain on Tuesday revised its policy to ban the Chinese telecom major – Hauwei from its 5G network venture. The motion came in after owing to pressure form the Trump administration in US despite the threats of retaliation from China.
The British digital minister, Oliver Dowden announced the motion in the parliament after a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the national security council.
He announced that the British telecom service providers to stop buying any Hauwei equipment from the end of this year and that the new guidelines do ensure all Hauwei equipment to be stripped off by 2026.
The British Prime Minister had earlier come under criticism both at home and also had irked US president Donald Trump by allowing the Chinese telecom giant to speed up the 5G network implementation in Britain in January earlier this year.
The UK’s transition of Brexit heralded its distancing from the EU had its eye on reviving strong ties with major Asian powers to revive PM Boris Johnson’s vision of a ‘Global Britain’.
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However Washington had expressed ”security concerns” over the intelligence sharing and even hinted at recalling the fighter jets stationed in Britain as it believes Hauwei might engage in spying and even accused the Chinese telecom major might derail the 5G network in case of a war.
Although Huawei has consistently downplayed this and highlighted their cordial cooperation with the British security agencies on safety check over two decades. In May, US laid fresh sanctions by blocking the access to its chips and semi conductors within their 5G networks.
The blockade propelled Hauwei to look for alternative markets from their relied US customers. However, the British security agencies wouldn’t guarantee its safety.
The British Prime Minister was under pressure to adapt tougher foreign policy apart from banning Hauwei but also to take a tough stand on China for its recent actions on Hong Kong and its treatment of ethnic Uighurs in Xinjiang province.
However the British telecom companies expressed concerns over the ban citing the costing in billions if they had to replace the existing Hauwei equipments and may take years to reinvent. The Boris Johnson’s government had earlier allowed Hauwei to roll out 35 percent of its 5G network venture.
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