UK says OK to Huawei

The UK will allow China's Huawei to build what are described as 'non-core' elements of a British 5G network, but the Chinese company is not allowed to operate at what are defined by the government as sensitive sites.

As Dan Sabbagh tweeted today, “Boris Johnson and the spies have their way.”

From reporting by Heather Stewart at The Guardian:

The Chinese tech firm Huawei has been designated a “high-risk vendor” but will be given the opportunity to build non-core elements of Britain’s 5G network, the government has announced.

The company will be banned from the “core”, of the 5G network, and from operating at sensitive sites such as nuclear and military facilities, and its share of the market will be capped at 35%.

“We are clear-eyed about the challenge posed by Huawei, which we today confirm is a high-risk vendor,” said a Whitehall source.

But the source insisted a “market failure” meant there was little alternative in the short term.

Read the rest:

Boris Johnson gives green light for Huawei 5G infrastructure role
[theguardian.com]

Huawei already plays a large role in the UK’s 5G networks. Every major carrier is currently using Huawei equipment. The UK also setup a special committee to monitor Huawei years ago, so the US scaremongering is not relevant. https://t.co/2AhR7VHTC5

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) January 28, 2020

So the UK govt hasn’t named Huawei but says its National Cyber Security Centre can name “vendors” (such as Huawei) as being “high risk” — whereupon restrictions kick in.https://t.co/75xTIGmkUy pic.twitter.com/kdYXcU4QmQ

— Adrian Weckler (@adrianweckler) January 28, 2020

Boris Johnson and the spies have their way: Huawei allowed to supply 5G but, as expected, formally designated a 'high risk' vendor supplying non core kit and subject to a 35% market share cap (the same level it is at on 4G)https://t.co/PWqB3SQT4a

— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) January 28, 2020

December 2019:
“A Labour government would be a threat to national security!”

January 2020:
“Let’s hand access to our secrets to China” says party that also received £3.5m in donations from Russians and won’t reveal details of Russian interference. https://t.co/8Jd9wwzjKN

— David Schneider (@davidschneider) January 28, 2020

"If you're worried about China, what you need to do is look much more broadly at the security of our telecoms supply chain," says former culture secretary Jeremy Wright

"It may be a sensible compromise"https://t.co/p9uo5lOkPz pic.twitter.com/QgSaoWH6g7

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) January 28, 2020

Bad decision. Will damage the UK-UK alliance regardless of who is president https://t.co/z8AYQOz9CC

— Tom Wright (@thomaswright08) January 27, 2020

“The starkest sign that an American campaign against the telecommunications company is faltering.” Via ⁦@satariano⁩https://t.co/d6tEuovsyZ via @NYTimes

— CeciliaKang (@ceciliakang) January 28, 2020

BREAKING: #Huawei is allowed limited access to UK #5G networks. Details:

- restricted from security critical "core functions"
- 35% cap on non-core so-called radio access network (RAN) https://t.co/bR6m6jarHM

— Arjun Kharpal (@ArjunKharpal) January 28, 2020

Boris Johnson has betrayed the US and endangered the special relationship at a time when he needs a US-UK trade deal the most. I hope the Chinese cash was worth it because there are lot MOC's who will not be happy about thishttps://t.co/PUUDEP67X5

— Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) January 28, 2020

The Brits have a fundamentally different approach to the Huawei problem. They believe they can manage the risk. There are actually a number of US intelligence officials who agree with them. https://t.co/YX9RSbeeVn

— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) January 28, 2020

[via Techmeme]