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UK to ban installation of new 5G kit, Pressure builds on China's Huawei across Europe

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LONDON, 1 December 2020, (TON): British telecom companies will not be allowed to install new Huawei 5G equipment after September 2021. 

The UK government on Monday announced that it will ban British telecommunication companies from installing new Huawei 5G gear after September 2021, as part of its plan to phase out the Chinese tech giant's 5G infrastructure. 

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a statement "We are taking bold steps to implement one of the toughest telecoms security regimes in the world."  

"A central part of that is combating high-risk vendors, and I have set out an unambiguous timetable for the complete removal of Huawei equipment from our 5G networks no later than 2027," he said. 

The UK government in July reversed its policy to allow Huawei to provide infrastructure for its 5G network under pressure from the United States, which said the Chinese firm posed a security risk. 

It ordered a ban on buying new Huawei equipment after the end of this year and the complete removal of the Chinese firm's equipment from its 5G networks by the end of 2027. 

Under the new legislation, British telecom companies could be fined up to 10% of turnover or £100,000 ($133,140) a day if they contravene the ban. 

The government also announced its strategy to diversify the 5G supply chain, consisting of an initial £250 million investment, trials in collaboration with Japanese firm NEC and the establishment of new research facilities. 

UK government’s decision was made despite the absence of any evidence, while Huawei denies any allegations of wrongdoing. Huawei had previously expressed its hope the UK would reconsider its actions following Donald Trump’s defeat in the US election. However, this now appears not to be the case. 

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