Spy chief backing Huawei over 5G
A BRITISH intelligence chief has indicated support for Huawei involvement in building the UK’s 5G network.
Reports have suggested Prime Minister Theresa May has opened the door to the Chinese telecoms giant helping to build Britain’s new network despite warnings of a threat to national security.
GCHQ director Jeremy Fleming said engineering is more important than the country behind the technology, otherwise known as its “flag of origin”.
Some critics have expressed concerns that the Chinese government could require the firm to install technological “back doors” to enable it to spy on or disable Britain’s communications network.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss also said the decision should be made on a “case-by-case basis” based on UK intelligence.
Mr Fleming appeared to be trying to calm concerns that the security risk posed by the involvement of Huawei should rule it out.
Speaking at the National Cyber Security Centre conference in Glasgow, he said: “A flag of origin of 5G equipment is important but it is a secondary factor.
“It’s a hugely complex strategic challenge that’s going to span the next few decades. How we deal with it will be crucial for our prosperity and for our security.”
Huawei’s involvement should not be ruled out based on what other countries have done, Ms Truss told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One, because the UK may have different intelligence advice.
She said: “We need to decide on a caseby-case basis based on the security advice, but that should be led by the UK – we shouldn’t be deciding on the basis of what the Americans think or what the Australians think.”
Earlier, Digital Minister Margot James dismissed reports that the Prime Minister had given the go-ahead for Huawei to work on the UK’s 5G network. She said: “In spite of Cabinet leaks to the contrary, final decision yet to be made on managing threats to telecoms infrastructure.”
Ministers including Home Secretary Sajid Javid, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt were said to have raised concerns about the plan, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Last month, a Government-led committee set up to vet Huawei’s products said it had found “significant technological issues” with its engineering processes posing new risks to the UK network.
The US has banned Huawei from its government networks and urged the other nations in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance – the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada – to do the same.
This was taken up by Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat who tweeted: “Allowing Huawei into the UK’s 5G infrastructure would cause allies to doubt our ability to keep data secure.”