UK gov bans new Huawei equipment installs after Sept 2021

The British government will ban the installation of new Huawei equipment in the 5G networks of Wireless carriers after September 2021.

The British government will not allow the installation of new Huawei equipment in the 5G networks of Wireless carriers after September 2021.

The decision to ban the Chinese giant from the building of the 5G networks was announced in July by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

UK officials proposed to stop installing new Huawei equipment in the 5G network within the year, they also plan to speed up the replacement of Chinese technology that has been already deployed.

The decision comes after a new UK intelligence agency GCHQ’s report raised new security concerns over Huawei 5G equipment. The UK intelligence analysis believe that US ban on Chinese 5G technology will force Huawei to use untrusted technology.

In January, the EU’s executive Commission presented a set of rules and technical measures aimed at reducing cybersecurity risks from the adoption of 5G. The Commission’s recommendations included blocking high-risk equipment suppliers from “critical and sensitive” components of 5G infrastructures, such as the core.

The EU’s executive Commission did not explicitly mention companies, but a clear reference is to the Chinese firm Huawei.

The United States applauded the UK’s decision to ban equipment from China’s Huawei telecoms giant from its 5G network.

Telecom operators in the UK have until 2027 to replace Chinese existing gear out of their infrastructures.

“The government will today set out a roadmap for the complete removal of high risk vendor equipment from the UK’s 5G networks, alongside an ambitious strategy to diversify the country’s telecoms supply chain and ensure its future resilience.” th e UK Government announced.

“Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden will say operators must stop installing any Huawei equipment in 5G networks from the end of September 2021 as the Telecommunications (Security) Bill has its second parliamentary reading.”

Huawei declined to comment on the decision and continues to deny the U.S. allegations.

“Today I am setting out a clear path for the complete removal of high risk vendors from our 5G networks,” Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said. “This will be done through new and unprecedented powers to identify and ban telecoms equipment which poses a threat to our national security.”

The government is setting out a Diversification Strategy aimed at mitigating the resilience risks to 5G networks ahead of the 2027 deadline. The government will spend an initial £250 million to kick off its activities to create a secure and competitive supply market for telecoms.

The government strategy will invest in research on Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) technology to allow the coexistence of multiple suppliers in a single mobile network.

“Removing the need for all components to come from the same supplier will bring a number of benefits. It will make it easier and cheaper to switch between suppliers, creating opportunities for new market entrants. It also grows the market – increasing the role of software and virtual based solutions, big data and AI – giving a broader base of companies and SMEs an opportunity to help build networks.” concludes the press release.

Pierluigi Paganini

(SecurityAffairs – hacking, malware)

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