The British government has declared that the telecommunications providers in the country must not install new Huawei 5G kits after September 2021, as part of a strategy to eliminate the Chinese company’s equipment from high-speed mobile networks.
Britain has already ordered all Huawei equipment to be withdrawn from its 5G network by the end of 2027, falling in line with intelligence partners, including the United States, who say the firm poses security risks.
China has criticized the decision, while Huawei said last week that it was disappointed with Britain’s move after the publication of new laws that could see companies fined $133,140 if they violate the ban. The move seeks to remove Huawei from the 5G roll-out.
The latest announcement comes ahead of a debate over new telecoms legislation in the UK parliament and sets out a timeline for equipment removal.
“I am setting out a clear path for the complete removal of high risk vendors from our 5G networks,” digital minister Oliver Dowden said in a statement. “This will be done through new and unprecedented powers to identify and ban telecoms equipment which poses a threat to our national security.”
In partnership with the Japanese company NEC and the establishment of new research facilities, the UK government also announced a new plan to diversify the 5G supply chain trials. UK has already banned the purchase of new Huawei 5G kits after the end of this year.
Britain said its July decision was related to concerns that production chains may be disrupted by US sanctions on chip technology. At the time Huawei said the decision was disappointing and was more about US trade policy than security.
