UK Says ‘Yes’ to China’s Huawei For 5G Network Despite US Pressure

The Chinese telecom major has been looking to work with multiple countries to set up 5G network using its equipment

Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: AP)

Britain on Tuesday announced that it will allow Chinese telecom giant Huawei to help build the country's next generation of super-fast 5G networks with some restrictions, despite intense pressure from the US to block the firm over security concerns.

The mobile operators in the UK will be able to use Huawei equipment in their 5G networks but the company will be excluded from "security critical" core areas, according to a statement from the government.

The announcement follows months of public debate in the country over how to respond to concerns raised by the US government about potential national security risks posed by Huawei components.

A Trump administration official said on Tuesday that the US "is disappointed" with the UK's decision, the report said.

The Trump administration has previously warned that US-UK intelligence sharing could be put at risk if London allowed Huawei to participate in the 5G networks. The Trump administration had been pressing for a total ban on Huawei products, alleging that Beijing could use the equipment for snooping.

Johnson was under intense pressure, including from within his Conservative Party, to agree to US demands on Huawei. He discussed the issue with President Donald Trump in a phone call on Friday. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted on Sunday that Britain faced a "momentous" decision on 5G.

While China has previously warned the UK that there could be "substantial" repercussions to other trade and investment plans if Huawei was banned outright from the country's 5G market.

Last month, India said it would allocate airwaves to all telecom service providers for conducting trials of 5G networks, a move welcomed by Huawei. In Brussels, a top European Union official said on Tuesday that the bloc will not ban Huawei or any other company in Europe.

Huawei, based in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, has consistently denied that it would help the Chinese government to spy. Ren Zhengfei, the founder of Huawei, has previously worked with China's People's Liberation Army and has ties with the ruling Communist Party of China.