Due to security concerns, the United Kingdom has announced that it will end the use of Huawei technology in its 5G network by this year.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set for a major policy change after Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) is believed to have reassessed the risk posed by the Chinese tech company.
The report comes in the backdrop of the United States designating Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE Corp as national security threats, saying they have close ties with the Chinese Communist Party and China’s military apparatus.
A study by GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre has decided the US sanctions barring Huawei from using technology relying on American intellectual property has had a severe impact on the company.
Now, officials are crafting proposals to prevent new Huawei equipment being installed in the 5G network in as little as six months.
The prime minister’s decision to allow Huawei a limited role in Britain’s 5G network has caused tension between London and Washington DC in recent months.
The involvement of the Chinese tech firm in Britain’s 5G network also caused concern among a number of prominent figures on the Conservative backbenches.