Turnaround announced by the British government: the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei has been excluded from supplies for the new 5G network in the United Kingdom since 31 December.
The decision was formalized by the National Security Council under the chairmanship of Boris Johnson to be later announced in Parliament by Minister Oliver Dowden . It reverses the green light, albeit limited, given to Huawei in recent months from London. And he realigns Johnson to US wishes, at the cost of having to face threats of commercial retaliation in Brexit times by a partner of the weight of Beijing: already furious about the clash with the Kingdom on the Hong Kong dossier.
Dowden, owner of the Ministry of Culture, Digital, Media and Sport, also explained to the House of Commons that all the still active components supplied by Huawei to the British network (starting with 4G) in the last 15 years will have to be removed "within 2027 ". The course correction was decided on the basis of a further revision of the dossier entrusted by the government to the intelligence agencies to evaluate the impact on British national security of the additional sanctions recently imposed by the American ally against the Chinese company.
The British rethinking of Huawei's participation in 5G networks plans "is a disappointing decision and bad news for anyone with a cell phone in the UK." Huawei Brew spokesman Ed Brewster said , condemning the announcement of Boris Johnson's government.
It is a choice that "does not advance, but makes the Kingdom fall behind" on the technological front, the spokesman continues, inviting Johnson to retrace his steps.
The company also denies that US restrictions have an impact on the "safety of products" supplied across the Channel and reports that the issue has been "politicized" by Washington.