Huawei equipment faces removal from 5G networks by 2027

A consultation has been launched with telecoms firms on proposed legal instruments to control the use of Huawei in UK networks.

UK telecoms providers have already begun to remove Huawei from the UK’s 5G networks following the government’s announcement in July 2020.

As the next step in this process, the government is now required by the new Telecommunications (Security) Act to consult with industry on the proposed measures which would bring these controls on Huawei onto a legal footing.

In November the Act became law - giving the government the legal mechanism to restrict the use of high risk vendor equipment in public networks where deemed necessary and proportionate in the interests of national security.

The legal instruments the government is consulting on are known as a ‘designated vendor direction’, and contain require public telecoms providers to regard Huawei as a high-risk vendor.

The consultation will last for four weeks and is only open to public communications providers which would receive the direction, and Huawei, as the proposed designated vendor.

The direction, subject to the consultation, legally requires telecoms operators to:

• Remove all Huawei equipment from 5G networks by the end of 2027.

• Not install Huawei equipment in 5G networks, effective immediately upon the issuing of the final direction.

• Remove all Huawei equipment from the core of telecoms networks by 28 January 2023.

• Not install sanctions-affected Huawei equipment in full fibre networks, effective immediately upon the issuing of the direction. This includes any equipment for which the supply chain or manufacturing process has been altered due to the impact of US sanctions.

• Reduce the share of Huawei equipment to 35 per cent of the full fibre and 5G access (i.e. non-core) networks by 31 July 2023, six months later than previously announced due to the difficulties providers have faced during the pandemic.

• Remove Huawei high data rate intra-core and inter-operator transmission equipment - hardware which sends data across a network without processing it - from all networks by 31 December 2025.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “The government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of our phone and internet networks.

“Last year we brought in new laws to protect UK infrastructure from high-risk vendors and issue tough sanctions on providers which fall short of our high security standards. This consultation marks the next step in removing the risks posed by Huawei.”

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