LONDON and MARKHAM, Ont. — Despite deeming Huawei to be a “high-risk vendor”, the British government announced it will allow the Chinese telecom company to play a limited role in building the U.K.’s 5G wireless networks.
In keeping with guidance from the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the U.K. government issued a news release Tuesday outlining how high-risk vendors such as Huawei will be allowed to participate in 5G and gigabit-capable infrastructure builds in the country. “High risk vendors are those who pose greater security and resilience risks to U.K. telecoms networks,” reads the UK government release.
The NCSC’s advice is that high-risk vendors should be:
- Excluded from all safety-related and safety-critical networks in critical national infrastructure;
- Excluded from security-critical ‘core’ functions, the sensitive part of the network;
- Excluded from sensitive geographic locations, such as nuclear sites and military bases; and
- Limited to a minority presence of no more than 35% in the periphery of the network, known as the access network, which connects devices and equipment to mobile phone masts (UK-speak for towers).
The U.K. government says in its release the 35% cap on high-risk vendor access to non-sensitive parts of the network will be kept under review to determine whether it should be further reduced as the market diversifies. In addition, the government says it will seek to legislate at the earliest opportunity to put in place the powers necessary to implement this new telecom security framework.
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon by Huawei Canada on behalf of its parent company, Huawei vice-president Victor Zhang is quoted as saying: “Huawei is reassured by the U.K. government’s confirmation that we can continue working with our customers to keep the 5G roll-out on track. This evidence-based decision will result in a more advanced, more secure and more cost-effective telecoms infrastructure that is fit for the future. It gives the U.K. access to world-leading technology and ensures a competitive market.”
Zhang goes on to say: “We have supplied cutting-edge technology to telecoms operators in the U.K. for more than 15 years. We will build on this strong track record, supporting our customers as they invest in their 5G networks, boosting economic growth and helping the U.K. continue to compete globally.
“We agree a diverse vendor market and fair competition are essential for network reliability and innovation, as well as ensuring consumers have access to the best possible technology,” Zhang’s statement concludes.
Canada’s government continues to delay its decision regarding Huawei’s participation in the building of the country’s 5G network infrastructure (but many assume Canada may well take a similar decision as Britain where Huawei technology is not allowed in network cores). Rogers has already chose Ericsson as its 5G vendor but Bell and Telus are waiting on the feds.
During a media scrum today (posted here by Power and Politics) , Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry Navdeep Bains said: “We want to do our appropriate due diligence to make a decision that is in the best interest of Canadians, and we want to make sure we go about it in the appropriate manner.”
