Huawei Ban Would Harm UK's Mobile Leadership
BEIJING (Dispatches) - United Kingdom mobile operators plan to warn the British government that a ban on Chinese telecommunications company Huawei would jeopardize the UK's role as a leader in mobile connectivity.
Several operators reportedly plan to send a letter to Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill asking the government to urgently clarify whether it intends to allow Huawei to bid for 5G contracts in Britain, according to the BBC.
The UK has been under pressure from the United States to boycott Huawei due to alleged security concerns. UK mobile operators have historically used a substantial amount of Huawei kits when updating network infrastructure.
In a draft of the letter, which was seen by the BBC, the operators expressed frustration that they have had to delay investment decisions while the government debates the Huawei question. The operators also reiterated that a Huawei ban would delay 5G rollout in the UK by up to two years and damage Britain's chances of becoming a world leader in future technologies.
Several operators reportedly plan to send a letter to Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill asking the government to urgently clarify whether it intends to allow Huawei to bid for 5G contracts in Britain, according to the BBC.
The UK has been under pressure from the United States to boycott Huawei due to alleged security concerns. UK mobile operators have historically used a substantial amount of Huawei kits when updating network infrastructure.
In a draft of the letter, which was seen by the BBC, the operators expressed frustration that they have had to delay investment decisions while the government debates the Huawei question. The operators also reiterated that a Huawei ban would delay 5G rollout in the UK by up to two years and damage Britain's chances of becoming a world leader in future technologies.