Huawei probe is delayed

A REVIEW into whether Huawei should be allowed to supply equipment for the UK’s 5G mobile network faces more delays.

Ministers will have the final say on whether the Chinese telecom company’s kit can be used amid fears of ‘shoddy’ security and potential spying by China.

A decision was originally expected in March or April this year, but industry figures were later told to expect one in May.

Now it is thought ministers may wait until the summer, with Whitehall security officials still divided and the Brexit crisis taking up government time. One source said: ‘Politicians are going to be left to make the call, but there’s only one thing they are concerned about at the moment and that is Brexit.’

Last night a government spokesman insisted it was still expected to be completed by the end of next month.

The review of the telecoms supply chain was launched in November and is being led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with input from other branches of government such as the National Cyber Security Centre. The Government insists the review does not focus on any individual company.

Critics, however, claim Huawei’s close relationship with the Chinese state could lead to its equipment being used for spying. It has also come under fire from security chiefs, who said its kit risked leaving serious vulnerabilities in Britain’s phone and internet networks.

Huawei’s UK boss, Jerry Wang, claimed his firm was the victim of a ‘sustained campaign of illinformed accusations’.