U.S. Gives Limited Relief for Consumers and Carriers Using Huawei

The Commerce Department granted a 90-day relief for certain U.S. broadband companies and wireless customers using Huawei equipment, according to Bloomberg. The temporary license covers continued operation of existing networks and equipment as well as support to existing handsets and other limited actions.

“This license will allow operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks,“ Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in an emailed statement. For Huawei phone users, the temporary reprieve means Google will be able to provide key Android security updates during the 90-day time frame, but future Huawei phones will still lack Google’s apps. Ross said last week that the administration had a plan in place to deal with rural providers that use the Chinese company’s equipment in existing 4G networks.

Small carriers, the main U.S. users of Huawei gear, had worried the ban could keep them from even routine practices such as ordering replacement parts or exchanging information in order to update software. The equipment is typically cheap and reliable, winning fans among rural providers. The temporary license is effective for three months, until Aug. 19.