Secretive test lab at the heart of Huawei furore
Behind tinted glass, world experts at new security HQ could spark a fresh trade war
TO THE untrained eye, it appears no different from the thousands of other red brick office blocks in industrial estates across Britain.
But look closely at Endeavour House, on the outskirts of Banbury, and you’ll notice the tinted windows that protect the highly confidential work going on inside.
This is the secretive Oxfordshire base where some 35 cyber security experts are testing equipment supplied by controversial Chinese telecoms giant Huawei – and will within months publish a potentially explosive report that could trigger a global trade war.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Huawei testing lab – known as the ‘Cell’ – has quietly been moved to this new location so more extensive experiments can be conducted into the security of its circuit boards and code, which power Britain’s telecoms networks.
For years, BT, Vodafone, 02 and other telecoms firms have used Huawei technology in their mobile phone and broadband networks.
The Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) was set up in 2010 by the Chinese firm to allay fears that this equipment could be accessed by Beijing to get hold of personal mobile phone and internet data that could be used for statesponsored espionage.
Since 2014 the work of the British nationals employed there has been monitored by GCHQ, the Cabinet Office and Home Office.
Huawei is a private firm, but critics argue it has close ties to Beijing. Its founder and chief executive Ren Zhengfei is a former officer in the People’s Liberation Army with links to the Communist Party. Zhengfei denies the suggestion that Chinese authorities have asked for help to spy on Western countries.
The row about potential state interference flared up last year when Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, daughter of Zhengfei, was arrested in Canada at the request of the US authorities. She remains under house arrest and faces extradition to the US.
Last week, Vodafone followed BT in suspending the use of Huawei kit in its core network. The Prince’s Trust charity, the University of Oxford and Queen’s University Belfast have also severed ties with Huawei, while its technology has effectively been banned in the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Crucially, the Cell has the only access to Huawei’s confidential ‘source code’ and is the only facility that can really test whether there are vulnerabilities that could allow ‘back-door’ access to networks.
Industry sources say they eagerly anticipate the result of work at the Cell, which will be published in July and could be used by the Government to decide whether to follow other nations in banning Huawei. A ban could force other countries to stop using Huawei, as the Cell is seen as having the best view of Huawei’s capabilities.
The Cell’s British cyber security experts – who are nonetheless on the Huawei payroll – have to go through ‘developed vetting’, the top level of clearance for people with access to top secret information.
Since 2014, their work has been monitored by Government officials on the HCSEC Oversight Board, set up after Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, led by former Defence Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, expressed concern about the firm’s grip on the UK telecoms market in 2013.
Huawei has now vacated its original testing base and moved half a mile down the road to this larger office space in a sign it is ramping up checks. Sources at Huawei said the larger space would allow it to expand its testing capabilities and carry out work more efficiently.
Huawei’s supporters say the fears over state interference stem from the US, which has historically been protective of its home-grown firms, especially in the technology sector, and fearful of foreign competition.
The Government could find itself at the centre of a diplomatic row as it seeks closer ties with China after Brexit while maintaining its good relationship with the US.
Last month, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he had ‘very deep concerns’ about Huawei being involved in Britain’s 5G network, which is being launched this year.
The Oversight Board, chaired by Ciaran Martin, chief executive of GCHQ’s National Cyber Security Centre, produces an annual report, usually in July, detailing the findings of the Cell’s work.
Last year, the board’s report provided only ‘limited assurance’ that the risks to Huawei’s involvement in critical networks have been ‘sufficiently mitigated’.
On Friday, Vodafone said it would ‘pause’ installing Huawei’s equipment in its core networks, but would continue to buy Huawei’s radio gear used on towers.
Vodafone’s chief executive Nick Read said he made the decision due to the ‘general noise’ surrounding Huawei and warned that banning Huawei would significantly delay the rollout of 5G.