Technology
UK bans the installation of new Huawei 5G equipment as of September
The UK Government is banning the introduction of new Huawei 5G equipment from September 2021 as part of its efforts to phase out the Chinese company's technologies by 2027, says The Financial Times. The decision follows the government's announcement in July that companies will be banned from purchasing new machinery as of January 2021 as a result of national security issues.
The announcement means that all telecommunications providers that have purchased Huawei equipment before the January cut-off will not be allowed to use it for long-term 5G roll-outs. The Financial Times notes that several businesses have been storing this machinery since the summer. According to BBC News, companies will still be permitted to retain old equipment after September.
The proposed laws that will be discussed in Parliament this week will begin the process of enshrining the ban in statute and spell out how it will be applied. In the Telecommunications Protection Bill, telecommunications providers will be charged up to 10% of their turnover or £100,000 a day if they do not meet with the proposed safety requirements.
Although rivals Ericsson and Nokia have so far entered into many contracts to replace Huawei's equipment, the government is promising to spend GBP 250 million to promote the development of smaller players in the industry. This plan would aim to reduce the effects of the withdrawal of Huawei's equipment from 5G networks, including the development of a new National Telecoms Lab and investment in new open radio technologies.
Huawei refused to comment on the announcement to the BBC and did not respond immediately to The Verge's request for comments. In the past, the organization has repeatedly denied posing a national security danger.
Vice-President of the group, Victor Zhang, said that the decision of the United Kingdom to bar its equipment from the country's networks is politically motivated and not based on a fair risk assessment.
