UK is Reviewing the Potential Impact of US Sanctions on Huawei

The UK confirmed it is working on a review on the impact of additional US sanctions on Huawei and how tightened restrictions could affect mobile networks. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said it was reviewing the potential impact US sanctions on Huawei could have on UK networks.

Its review comes four months after operators were given the green light to use Huawei 5G equipment in non-sensitive parts of networks, subject to a 35% limit. Prime Minister Boris Johnson then faced a revolt within his own party, with several MPs arguing that Huawei should be banned on security grounds. The government won a vote to keep its original decision in place on the issue in early March.

The situation has changed once again after the US moved to restrict Huawei’s access to components produced overseas using US software and technology. NCSC’s confirmation of a review comes after several media reports in the UK indicated Prime Minister Boris Johnson was set to give in to pressure from within his party and the US, and would cut Huawei from UK networks entirely by 2023.

In response, Huawei’s VP Victor Zhang said in a statement that it had seen reports from unnamed sources which simply don’t make sense.“The government decided in January to approve our part in the 5G rollout, because Britain needs the best possible technologies, more choice, innovation and more suppliers, all of which means more secure and more resilient networks,“ Zhang said.