Huawei 5G to be banned from the UK by 2027

The Chinese telecommunication provider will not be available for purchase by UK mobile providers by 31 December.

The sanctions imposed by Washington were followed by the UK’s Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden. It is claimed that the firm poses a threat to national security, a bold claim that Huawei strongly denies.

“This has not been an easy decision, but it is the right one for the UK telecoms networks, for our national security and our economy, both now and indeed in the long run,” Mr. Dowden stated

As it is only the 5G equipment that is affected by US sanctions, it is to the government's belief that there are no security concerns to remove the 2G, 3G and 4G equipment supplied by Huawei.

The government wants mobile operators to start to “transition away” from obtaining Huawei equipment altogether, in favour of using a full-fibre cellular network. The Digital Secretary expects this to happen over the next couple of years.

Mr Dowden then went on to explain that the additional time was for broadband to avoid the UK of becoming solely dependant on Nokia as a its single supplier of some of its equipment.