UK 5G Could be Delayed

The UK’s 5G rollout could be delayed as Huawei debate rumbles on.

20:40 12 May 2019

The UK’s 5G rollout, which has been anticipated to take place in 2020, could be delayed as debate on whether Huawei will be allowed to supply operators with 5G radio equipment rumbles on. Reports claim that the National Security Council is leaning towards to ban the Chinese tech company to provide kit for the core of 5G networks due to security concerns. Huawei, which is a key supplier for all four major UK operators, sells products to more than 500 operators in 170 countries. However, the US market has stayed away from the company due to Washington’s fear that its 5G kit could be used to facilitate state-sponsored espionage.

 

Jeremy Wright has told the House of Commons that he is prepared to sacrifice the economic gains for an early 5G launch in favour of national security.

 

He said: “There is certainly the possibility of a delay in the process of the roll out of 5G: If you want to do 5G fastest then you do that without any consideration for security. But we not prepared to do that. So, I don’t exclude the possibility that there will be some delay.

 

“This is not an exercise about how we get the cheapest telecom equipment. The primary intention of this process is to get the security of the network right.”