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(CNN) - The UK government said Tuesday that it will block Huawei from its 5G telecommunications networks, reversing the January decision that would allow the Chinese tech company to play a limited role in building the world's super-fast wireless infrastructure. country.
UK operators have been banned from buying new Huawei equipment since the end of 2020, and have been given until 2027 to remove existing Huawei equipment from their networks, the UK government announced on Tuesday. British firms BT and Vodafone have already warned that removing Huawei equipment would take years and could lead to service disruptions for consumers.
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The decision comes after mounting pressure from conservative UK lawmakers and the US administration on security grounds.
The United States imposed a new round of sanctions against Huawei in May, further reducing the company's ability to manufacture and obtain semiconductor chips using American-made technology. UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden said this was a material change taken into consideration.
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He added that this Tuesday's decision will delay the deployment of the UK's 5G infrastructure and cost half a trillion pounds ($ 625 million).
The decision is a major blow to Huawei, which has operated in Britain for 20 years. Europe is a key market for the company, accounting for 24% of sales last year.
Huawei announced half-year results earlier than usual on Monday, reporting slower revenue growth. The company is already experiencing a decline in smartphone sales, after Washington blocked access to popular Google apps.
- With information from Chris Liakos in London.