PM needs ‘spy fear’ 5G firm

BORIS JOHNSON has been told his flagship promise of superfast internet for all by 2025 is a pipe dream unless he drops his opposition to Chinese tech giant Huawei, The Mail on Sunday has learned.

Security chiefs on the Prime Minister’s National Security Council have been warned blocking the controversial firm’s access to the UK’s 5G network over espionage fears risks leaving Britain in the technological dark ages – and Mr Johnson’s ambitious target impossible.

During his bid for No 10 last summer, Mr Johnson branded current UK plans for superfast full fibre Broadband for all by 2033 a ‘disgrace’ and ‘laughably unambitious’.

And instead he set the target for the middle of the next decade – a pledge likely to take centre stage when the Tories unveil their blueprint manifesto in ten days’ time.

The Government’s own estimates put the bill for the original plan at more than £33 billion, with experts telling Ministers relying on 5G to meet the ambitious 2025 target is much more realistic and cheaper.

However, such a major 5G rollout would require dropping opposition to the Chinese firm having a major input to British infrastructure, leaving Ministers split.

The Government is under huge pressure from Washington to turn away from Huawei over spying fears, with the NSC delaying a final decision until after the Election.

A senior Whitehall source said a ‘pivot toward wireless technology in order to reach the trickier parts of the country where fibre connections are just not practical is definitely on the cards.’

And a Government source confirmed Mr Johnson’s net pledge was ‘more about speed, time and cost, rather than method of delivery’.