The UK has decided to let Huawei play a “limited” role in building its 5G network.
Editor’s note: This article is from WeChat public account “ Daily Economic News ” (ID : Nbdnews), author Li Keyu, editor Chen Xu Zheng Zhi Du Bo.
In 5G UK, Huawei is shortlisted!
On January 28, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened the National Security Council to discuss whether to allow Chinese companies to participate in the construction of 5G networks in the UK. Johnson announced after the meeting that Britain has decided to let Huawei play a “limited” role in building its 5G network.
This move also means that despite previous tough pressures from individual countries, the communication giant Huawei has not been absent from the construction of 5G in Europe. Based on its own high cost performance, Huawei’s 5G equipment is still knocking open. With the gates of many European countries, cooperation with broad prospects will begin.
Image source: Every photo by reporter Liu Ling
At present, European multinational companies have announced that they will continue to use Huawei equipment in 5G construction. For example, on December 11, 2019, Telefonica, one of Germany’s three major telecom operators, announced that it will continue to rely on Huawei’s technology when building 5G networks.
Prior to June 10, 2019, British multinational telecommunications operator Vodafone also announced that it would launch commercial 5G networks in 15 cities in Spain, mainly using network equipment from Huawei.
Portuguese telecommunications operator NOS also revealed in October 2019 that it has partnered with Huawei to build the country’s first 5G network in Matosinhos, northern Portugal.
Yang Chaobin, president of Huawei’s 5G product line, revealed at an international forum that Huawei currently has signed more than 60 5G commercial contracts worldwide, with 32 from European customers.
Huawei can participate in non-core 5G network construction in the UK
On the morning of January 28, the British National Security Council held a meeting and signed an agreement on Huawei’s limited participation in UK 5G network construction.
On the same day, Zhang Jiangang, Vice President of Huawei, responded that the British government confirmedTo continue to work with customers to maintain 5G deployment progress. This decision will bring more advanced, secure and cost-effective telecommunications infrastructure to the UK, meeting future development requirements. This gives the UK access to world-leading technology while ensuring a competitive market.
Zhang Jiangang said: “We have been providing cutting-edge technology for British Telecom operators for more than 15 years. We will continue to work on the basis of this good record to support our customers in investing in 5G networks and promote economic growth. Helping the United Kingdom maintain its global competitiveness. “
Information map (every reporter Zhang Jian / photo)
Zhang Jiangang said that Huawei’s endorsement of a diversified supplier market and fair competition is essential to improve network reliability, promote innovation, and ensure that consumers have access to the best technology.
On the day before the UK made this decision, the EU also issued an important signal to Huawei’s participation in its 5G construction-according to Agence France-Presse news, on January 27 local time, a senior EU official revealed that The European Union will not ban Huawei from doing business in Europe, but will set “strict” rules on this.
In mid-January, German Federal Minister of the Interior Zehofer stated clearly in an interview with the media that he opposed the exclusion of China’s Huawei from Germany’s 5G network construction.
“I oppose the exclusion of a product from the market just because there is a possibility.” Zehofer said that without Huawei’s participation, Germany may not be able to build a 5G network in the short term, and the 5G network construction process May be delayed by 5 to 10 years.
Zehhofer also emphasized that on this issue, he “very agrees” with German Chancellor Merkel.
However, reporters from Daily Economic News (WeChat: nbdnews) also noticed that many domestic and foreign media reports show that although Huawei was able to participate in 5G construction in the UK, its degree of participation was also significantly restricted.
According to the British Independent Television (ITV), a statement issued by the British Ministry of Culture, Media and Sports states that in the construction of 5G in the UK, some “high-risk suppliers” will not be able to participate in the construction of sensitive core networks. A document released by the British National Cyber Security Centre in January this year clearly identified Huawei as a “high-risk supplier.”
Meanwhile, reporters from the Daily Economic News (WeChat: nbdnews) checked documents published on the UK government websiteIt is found that the current participation of “high-risk suppliers” in the construction of 5G networks in the UK is subject to a number of specific restrictions, such as being excluded from critical safety network facilities and being excluded from sensitive geographical locations. In addition, the market share of “high-risk suppliers” will also be limited to 35%.
CCTV News also reported that the British government confirmed after the meeting that Huawei will allow limited participation in the construction of 5G networks in the UK. Huawei can only participate in peripheral network construction and its market share can only reach 35%.
Huawei ban will hit foreign investors ’confidence in Britain
From some recent signs, the British government seems to have made such a decision early.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on January 14, this year, Johnson said that the United States continues to put pressure on the British 5G system to ban Huawei: “The British public deserves the best technology. We hope for everyone Gigabit broadband. Now if someone opposes one or another brand, they have to tell us about alternatives.
Analysis of the matter by Bloomberg in the United States believes that Johnson’s words show that even in the face of great pressure from the United States, the British government is still ready to allow Huawei to provide at least some equipment for the construction of 5G networks in Britain.
Interestingly, according to a number of British media reports, on December 5, 2019, Johnson himself took out a mobile phone and the host to take a selfie after taking part in a morning television show in the UK. But British media quickly discovered that this phone was produced by Huawei, and the specific model was Huawei’s P20 Pro.
The British Prime Minister’s Office later explained that Johnson had borrowed the Huawei phone from staff, not his own.
It is worth noting that on January 5th, Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Liu Xiaoming published a signed article in the British mainstream newspaper The Sunday Telegraph, emphasizing that banning Huawei would damage Britain ’s international image and crack down on foreign investors ’influence on Britain ’s future. Confidence will also make Britain lag behind in a new round of technological revolution.
Liu Xiaoming pointed out that the United Kingdom is known for its openness and tolerance. The ban on Huawei will not only affect Huawei’s operations in the UK, but also have a negative impact on Sino-British cooperation.
(The cover picture is from the daily economic news reporter Liu Ling)
From some recent signs, the British government seems to have made such a decision early.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on January 14, this year, Johnson said that the United States continues to put pressure on the British 5G system to ban Huawei: “The British public deserves the best technology. We hope for everyone Gigabit broadband. Now if someone opposes one or another brand, they have to tell us about alternatives.
Analysis of the matter by Bloomberg in the United States believes that Johnson’s words show that even in the face of great pressure from the United States, the British government is still ready to allow Huawei to provide at least some equipment for the construction of 5G networks in Britain.
Interestingly, according to a number of British media reports, on December 5, 2019, Johnson himself took out a mobile phone and the host to take a selfie after taking part in a morning television show in the UK. But British media quickly discovered that this phone was produced by Huawei, and the specific model was Huawei’s P20 Pro.
The British Prime Minister’s Office later explained that Johnson had borrowed the Huawei phone from staff, not his own.
It is worth noting that on January 5th, Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Liu Xiaoming published a signed article in the British mainstream newspaper The Sunday Telegraph, emphasizing that banning Huawei would damage Britain ’s international image and crack down on foreign investors ’influence on Britain ’s future. Confidence will also make Britain lag behind in a new round of technological revolution.
Liu Xiaoming pointed out that the United Kingdom is known for its openness and tolerance. The ban on Huawei will not only affect Huawei’s operations in the UK, but also have a negative impact on Sino-British cooperation.
(The cover picture is from the daily economic news reporter Liu Ling)