Huawei kit to be stripped out of UK 5G network by 2027
CHINESE tech giant Huawei's equipment will be stripped from the UK's 5G network by 2027, adding billions to the cost and delaying the delivery of the high-speed mobile network.
The National Security Council took the decision which will increase tensions with Beijing - after the impact of US sanctions raised concerns about Huawei's continued involvement in the UK's 5G infrastructure.
From next year, telecoms firms will be banned from purchasing new 5G equipment from Huawei.
They will also be ordered to shift away from the purchase of Huawei's equipment for full-fibre broadband networks over a period lasting up to two years.
The decisions were taken at a meeting of the National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on Tuesday morning.
It followed an assessment of the impact of US sanctions by experts from the National Cyber Security Centre.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden set out the revised position on Huawei in the Commons, acknowledging that the moves could delay the rollout of 5G by two to three years and potentially add £2 billion to the overall cost.
The Government had faced pressure from Tory backbenchers for a quicker approach to removing Huawei equipment, but Mr Dowden insisted that the changes would mean that, by the time of the next general election - expected in 2024 - the UK would be on an "irreversible path" to a network free from the firm.
Mr Dowden said January's decisions to restrict Huawei's role had added a year to the timetable and cost up to £1 billion.
The UK is braced for the prospect of reprisals from China in response to the announcement.
Huawei UK spokesman Ed Brewster said the "disappointing decision" is "bad news for anyone in the UK with a mobile phone".
"We remain confident that the new US restrictions would not have affected the resilience or security of the products we supply to the UK," he said.
"Regrettably, our future in the UK has become politicised - this is about US trade policy and not security."