Telecoms firms will be banned from installing Huawei equipment in the UK’s 5G networks from next September.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden confirmed the cut-off date for equipment from high-risk vendors under new national security powers.
The new end date comes earlier than expected, and follows Boris Johnson ’s decision to ban the Chinese firm from the most sensitive parts of UK infrastructure.
Operators must stop buying new Huawei kit by the end of 2020 and all equipment must be removed by the end of 2027.
The decision to limit access to the UK’s 5G network for Huawei and other high-risk vendors came after security fears and pressure from the US over tech giant’s alleged links to the Chinese state.
Mr Dowden confirmed that new installations will be banned from next September as MPs were due to debate plans to enshrine the ban in law today.
(Image: NurPhoto/PA Images)
The legislation would create national security powers capable of imposing controls on when – if at all – a telecoms firm could use material supplied by companies such as Huawei.
Mr Dowden said: “Today I am setting out a clear path for the complete removal of high-risk vendors from our 5G networks.”
He added: “This will be done through new and unprecedented powers to identify and ban telecoms equipment which poses a threat to our national security.
“We are also publishing a new strategy to make sure we are never again dependent on a handful of telecoms vendors for the smooth and secure running of our networks.”
