Germany prolongs banning Chinese 5G equipment

Germany has announced plans to ban critical components made by Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks, citing security concerns. The decision – revealed by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser on Thursday – will be implemented in two phases starting in 2026, with a longer timeline than initially expected.

Under the new agreement, critical components from Huawei and ZTE will be barred from 5G core networks by the end of 2026, a year later than previously envisaged....

11 July 2024 | 5G

UK sends legal documents mandating Huawei kit removal

The UK Government has sent legal documents to operators mandating the removal of Huawei equipment from national telecoms networks.

In 2020, the UK Government announced that Huawei’s kit must be removed from the country’s 5G networks by 2027. Operators were banned from purchasing Huawei’s equipment from 31 December 2020.

"This has not been an easy decision, but it is the right one for the UK telecoms networks, for our national security and our economy, both now and...

13 October 2022 | 5G

US carriers want $5.6B from the FCC for axing Huawei and ZTE

Carriers in the US are seeking $5.6 billion in reimbursements following the FCC’s decision to axe Huawei and ZTE from national telecoms networks.

The FCC voted unanimously in 2019 to ban carriers from using the Universal Service Fund to subsidise purchasing equipment from companies deemed a national security threat. Huawei and ZTE were the first two firms to be classed as such threats.

In 2020, former President Donald Trump signed the Secure and Trusted...

7 February 2022 | Legislation & Government

Ericsson CEO continues lobbying Swedish gov to overturn Huawei ban

Ericsson CEO Börje Ekholm is continuing to lobby the Swedish government to overturn a ban of Huawei’s equipment.

Ekholm has been vocal in opposing the ban since it was announced in October last year.

Dagens Nyheter reports Ekholm has sent a series of phone messages to Foreign Trade Minister Anna Hallberg calling for her to review the ban order by the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS).

Hallberg has said she has not had any contact with the PTS over the...

4 January 2021 | Legislation & Government

UK brings forward its deadline for carriers to ditch Huawei

The British government has brought forward a ban preventing carriers from installing Huawei’s telecoms equipment.

Operators are banned from installing Huawei’s equipment in the UK’s 5G networks from September 2021, the government has said. The vendor’s gear is still banned from purchase as of 31st December 2020.

"Today I am setting out a clear path for the complete removal of high-risk vendors from our 5G networks," Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said in a...

30 November 2020 | Legislation & Government

UK security bill sets out penalties if telcos use Huawei equipment

The UK has set out the security legislation that will enforce the ban on Huawei’s telecoms equipment, and it features some hefty penalties.

The Telecommunications Security Bill bans telcos from purchasing Huawei’s equipment from 2021. Huawei’s existing gear must be removed entirely from British networks by 2027.

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said:

“We are investing billions to roll out 5G and gigabit broadband across the country, but the benefits can...

24 November 2020 | Legislation & Government

Huawei appears to get a slight reprieve from US trade ban

Huawei’s business appears to be getting a slight reprieve from a US trade ban which has pressured the firm over the past year.

Huawei was added to the US Chamber of Commerce’s so-called Entity List earlier this year; meaning American companies are banned from doing business with Huawei without explicit permission. The decision was reinforced in July when the FCC officially designated Huawei a national security threat.

Although Huawei has increased the production of...

16 November 2020 | Legislation & Government

Huawei takes legal action over Sweden’s ban of its equipment

Huawei isn’t taking Sweden’s ban of its equipment lying down and has launched a legal appeal.

“We think the decision that has been taken is not good for customers nor for Sweden in general,” said Kenneth Fredriksen, Huawei’s Executive Vice President of Central East Europe and the Nordics, to Reuters earlier today.

“We, therefore, want a Swedish court to look at if the decision has been taken through a proper process and according to the...

6 November 2020 | Legislation & Government

Huawei report suggests the UK’s 5G delay risks £108B economic boost

A report for Huawei conducted by Assembly Research highlights the potential costs of the UK delaying its 5G rollout.

The UK’s decision in July to ban Huawei’s equipment has been widely acknowledged – including by the government – as setting back the country’s 5G rollout while simultaneously making it more expensive.

Matthew Howett, Principal Analyst and Founder of Assembly, said:

“The Government’s own expectation of its restrictions on Huawei is...

28 October 2020 | Legislation & Government

Ericsson joins Nokia in helping BT replace Huawei’s 5G gear

Ericsson has joined Nokia in helping BT to replace Huawei’s 5G equipment in London and other major cities.

In September, BT announced a deal with Nokia that will see the Finnish vendor become its biggest equipment supplier.

BT announced today that it has also selected Ericsson to be a key partner for its 5G deployments in London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, and other major cities.

“With deals now in place with both Ericsson and Nokia, two well-known and...

28 October 2020 | Networks