BT begins removing Huawei tech from 5G networks in UK

British Telecommunications (BT) has begun removing Huawei tech from both its 4G and 5G networks after the Chinese company's contract was revoked owing to potential cybersecurity concerns.

Huawei has been ousted from a number of key European deals owing to a US-backed coalition looking to prevent any potential Chinese interference.

Concerns are based around the 2016 Data Security Law, passed by the Chinese National People's Congress in late 2016 which made it a legal requirement for Chinese companies to store data in China and to surrender information to the law enforcement authorities when requested.

Read more: Huawei ban may require UK to use different 5G operators

BT has begun removing Huawei tech from its mobile network in the Yorkshire town of Hull.

Hull remains the only place in the UK where BT is not the primary incumbent for mobile networks, but it does operate networks in the area.

The government banned Huawei from operating within the UK's 5G networks in July 2020 and ordered all operators to remove their tech by 2027.

Since the ruling, Huawei has continued to deny that it is a security risk. It has been appealing a number of similar rulings within the EU.

British operators have, however, felt they are becoming too reliant on the Chinese companies primary rivals, Ericsson and Nokia, and may look further afield for new contracts. Both have become frontrunners in 5G technology over the last few months.

A number of mobile operators have been scrambling for contracts with the UK since the ruling.

Data suggests as much as 25% of the mobile infrastructure may be supplied by smaller companies.

A number of UK-based mobile service providers have warned it may take several years and hundreds of millions of pounds to fully remove all Huawei tech from their services.

Read more: Cybercrime has thrived during the coronavirus pandemic

BT estimates it will take them around two years to do so, whereas EE, Vodafone and Three estimate this could take them anywhere between five to seven years.

According to a report released last month, the estimated total cost to replace all Huawei tech in the country should come to around £2 billion (€2.31 billion).

Aside from the UK, Huawei has been banned in Germany, Sweden and the US. Bulgaria also joined the US's anti-Huawei coalition but has yet to formally block the telecoms company from operating within its borders.

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