UK Orders Complete Removal of Huawei Equipment From 5G Networks by 2027
The UK government bans the purchase of new Huawei 5G equipment and mandates the full removal of all existing gear by 2027. This decision follows a National Cyber Security Centre review concluding that recent US sanctions make it impossible to guarantee the security of the company's hardware.
The UK government mandates the complete removal of all Huawei equipment from the country's 5G networks by the end of 2027. Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden announces an immediate ban on purchasing any new Huawei 5G kit after December 31, 2020, while existing restrictions keeping the company out of the most sensitive core network parts remain firmly in place.
This policy shift stems from a technical review by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) regarding the impact of US sanctions imposed on Huawei in May. Because these sanctions cut off Huawei's access to essential US semiconductor technology, the NCSC concludes that the company must drastically reconfigure its supply chain using unproven alternatives.
Ministers decide that these supply chain disruptions make it impossible to guarantee the future security of Huawei equipment within UK infrastructure. Following a National Security Council meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, the government sets an irreversible legal path to fully purge Huawei from the nation's 5G networks to protect national security.