Huawei urges UK not to make 5G U-turn after pandemic
Chinese telecoms company Huawei has said that disrupting its
involvement in the rollout of 5G would do Britain "a disservice".
In January, the UK government approved a limited role for
Huawei in building the country's new data networks.
But in March, a backbench rebellion within the Conservative
party signalled efforts to overturn the move.
In an open letter, the firm also said it was focused on
keeping the UK connected during the Covid-19 crisis.
But the pandemic may increase pressure on the government to
take a tougher line on the company.
'Slow lane'
In the letter, Huawei's UK chief Victor Zhang says home data
use has increased by at least 50% since the virus first hit the UK, placing
"significant pressure" on telecoms systems.
Huawei says it has been working with partners like BT,
Vodafone and EE to deal with the growth and has also set up three new
warehouses around the country to ensure spare parts stay in supply.
Mr Zhang also says the current crisis has highlighted how
many people, especially in rural communities, are "stuck in a digital slow
lane". And he warns that excluding Huawei from a future role in 5G would
be a mistake.
"There are those who choose to continue to attack us
without presenting any evidence," he writes.
"Disrupting our involvement in the 5G rollout would do
Britain a disservice."
The government has banned Huawei from the most sensitive
parts of the UK's mobile networks, and limited it to 35% of the periphery,
which includes its radio masts.
But critics argue it is a security risk to allow the Chinese
company to play any role at all because of fears it could be used by Beijing to
spy on or even sabotage communications.
In early March, 38 Conservatives MPs rebelled on the issue,
a larger number than expected. That points to a potential upset when the
Telecoms Infrastructure Bill comes before Parliament, which is planned to
happen later in the year.
The coronavirus crisis highlights the tension between
economic and national security issues that makes the topic so contentious.
On one side is the need for greater connectivity to boost
economic growth. Supporters of Huawei's role argue that excluding it would both
slow down and raise the cost of delivering faster and more reliable networks.
On the other side is anger directed at China from some
quarters because of its perceived mishandling of the initial Covid-19 outbreak,
as well as the wider concerns over growing dependence on its technologies and
companies.
Unnamed ministers and senior officials were recently quoted
as saying there would have to be a "reckoning" once the current
crisis is over.
Part of that could involve a reversal of January's decision
- a concern which may explain the decision to write the letter.
On 4 April a group of 15 Conservative MPs called for a
rethink on relations with China in their own letter to the Prime Minister,
written a day before he was admitted to hospital.
"Over time, we have allowed ourselves to grow dependent
on China and have failed to take a strategic view of Britain's long-term
economic, technical and security needs," the group wrote. Among the
signatories were Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis and Bob Seely.
It is understood that Huawei waited until the Prime Minister
was out of hospital before releasing its letter.
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