The UK government has tightened the timetable for national telecoms operators to stop installing Chinese suppliers’ 5G kit, according to the BBC, who reports that the deadline for installing kits from so-called “high-risk” suppliers is now September.
He had previously announced a ban on telecom operators from purchasing Huawei and other kits at the end of this year, acting on national security concerns related to companies that fall under Chinese state surveillance laws. But, according to the BBC, ministers are concerned that operators may stockpile a kit for short-term installation to create an optional buffer for themselves, as this has allowed them until 2027 to remove such a kit from 5G networks. existing. Maintenance of equipment already installed until then will also be authorized.
A telecommunications security bill that will allow the government to identify the equipment as a national security risk and prohibit its use on home networks is expected to be submitted to parliament tomorrow.
Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden told the BBC he was pushing for “the complete elimination of high-risk suppliers”.
In July The government said changes to the U.S. sanctions regime meant it could no longer manage the security risk associated with Chinese equipment makers.
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The movement represented a significant change of direction from the political position announced in January – when the UK said it would allow Chinese suppliers to play a limited role in supplying national networks. However, the plan faced stiff opposition from the government’s own banks, as well as wide-ranging pressure from the United States, which prompted the allies to oust Huawei altogether.
In addition to policies to restrict the use of high-risk 5G providers, the UK has said it will take steps to encourage new entrants to enter the market to address concerns that the shortage of providers that this presents another security risk. .
Post an offer chain diversification strategy for 5G Today, Dowden warns that excluding “high risk” suppliers leaves the country “too dependent on too few suppliers”.
“This 5G diversification strategy is a clear and ambitious plan to develop our telecommunications supply chain while ensuring its resilience in the face of future trends and threats,” he writes. “It has three main aspects: support for established suppliers; attract new suppliers to the UK market; and accelerate the development and implementation of open interface solutions.
The government is committing an initial £ 250million in the 5G diversification plan to try to build momentum to increase competition and interoperability.
Achieving this long-term vision depends on removing barriers that prevent new market players from joining the supply chain, investing in R&D to support the accelerated development and deployment of interoperable deployment models and the collaboration and policy coordination between national governments and industry ”. written.
In the short to medium term, the government says it will prioritize supporting existing suppliers, so the likely short term beneficiary of the strategy is Nokia of Finl and.
Although the government also declares that it “will seek to attract new suppliers to the UK market to start the diversification process as soon as possible”.
“As part of our approach, we will prioritize UK capacity development opportunities in key areas of the supply chain,” he wrote, adding: “As we move forward in this business, we look forward to to work with UK network operators, telecommunications and international providers. governments to achieve our common goals of a more competitive and dynamic telecommunications procurement market.
We reached out to Huawei to comment on the new deadline for UK operators to stop installing their 5G kit.
The company continued to ignore security concerns related to its operations.