Britain Agrees To Let Huawei Access Restrictedly To Its 5G Network

On April 24, Huawei revealed that Britain would allow it to participate in developing the 5G network in the country. This will be a new chance for the Chinese tech company after being affected by the dispute between China and the United States.

Huawei has come under the severe influence after the United States called for its allies to avoid Huawei’s technology unless they want to be spied by the Chinese government. However, the telecommunications equipment manufacturer always denies all of the allegations.

According to the Daily Telegraph, although the British ministers are still concerned about Huawei, the National Security Council has agreed to let the company access restrictedly some non-core parts relating to fifth generation mobile infrastructure such as antennas.

Reuters reported that Huawei wouldn’t be able to approach all critical parts of Britain’s 5G network. Instead of that, the country allows it to deal with a few non-core parts. The identities of the two security sources that provided information for the agency have been unknown.

The stressful relations between the US and China have pushed many European nations into a dilemma when the US requires them not to use Huawei products and technologies. Besides, these nations don’t want their relations with China in diplomatic and trading aspects to be affected too much.

Britain’s new move will surely be an initiation for the other nations to follow. Of course, not all of the British politicians support this compromise.

The UK Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat said, "Allowing Huawei into the UK's 5G infrastructure would cause allies to doubt our ability to keep data secure and erode the trust essential to Five Eyes cooperation. The definition of core and non-core is a very difficult one with 5G.”

Also on April 24, a representative from the British government stated that the country had made an “evidence-based review” towards the 5G supply chain as a solution to confirm its security ability “now and in the future.”

According to the CEO of the National Cyber Security Centre Ciaran Martin,

As per Huawei, the Chinese equipment manufacturer highly appreciated what Britain has done. Its representative said,