According to reports from the BBC, the British government has accelerated the timeline for domestic telecommunications companies to cease the installation of 5G equipment originating from Chinese vendors. The new deadline for installing kit from those deemed “high risk” is now set for September.

Previously, a prohibition on the purchase of equipment from companies like Huawei was announced, to be fully implemented by the end of the current year, driven by national security considerations related to companies subject to Chinese state surveillance regulations. However, the BBC reports that government officials are concerned that mobile carriers might accumulate equipment for installation in the short term, creating a reserve. The current allowance for removing such equipment from existing 5G networks extends until 2027, and maintaining already installed equipment remains permissible until that time. 

A Telecommunications Security Bill, designed to empower the government to designate equipment as a national security risk and subsequently prohibit its use in domestic networks, is scheduled for introduction to parliament tomorrow.

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden conveyed to the BBC his commitment to achieving the “complete removal of high-risk vendors”.

In July, the government stated that alterations to the U.S. sanctions framework meant it was no longer able to effectively manage the security risks associated with Chinese equipment manufacturers.

This decision marks a significant reversal of the policy established in January, when the U.K. indicated it would permit Chinese vendors a restricted role in supplying domestic networks. This initial plan encountered substantial opposition from within the government’s own ranks, as well as considerable pressure from the United States, which has been advocating for the complete exclusion of Huawei.

In conjunction with policies aimed at limiting the use of high-risk 5G vendors, the U.K. has announced its intention to implement measures to encourage new companies to enter the market, addressing concerns that a reduced number of suppliers could introduce another security vulnerability.

Today, the publication of a supply chain diversification strategy for 5G sees Dowden caution that excluding “high risk” vendors leaves the nation “overly reliant on too few suppliers”.

“This 5G Diversification Strategy is a clear and ambitious plan to grow our telecoms supply chain while ensuring it is resilient to future trends and threats,” he writes. “It has three core strands: supporting incumbent suppliers; attracting new suppliers into the UK market; and accelerating the development and deployment of open-interface solutions.”

The government is initially allocating £250 million to support the 5G diversification plan, aiming to stimulate increased competition and interoperability.

“Achieving this long term vision depends on removing the barriers that prevent new market entrants from joining the supply chain, investing in R&D to support the accelerated development and deployment of interoperable deployment models, and international collaboration and policy coordination between national governments and industry,” the document states.

In the near to medium term, the government indicates it will prioritize support for existing suppliers, suggesting that Finland’s Nokia is likely to benefit from the strategy in the immediate future.

However, the government also affirms its intention to “seek to attract new suppliers to the U.K. market in order to start the process of diversification as soon as possible”.

“As part of our approach we will prioritise opportunities to build UK capability in key areas of the supply chain,” it writes, adding: “As we progress this activity we look forward to working with network operators in the UK, telecoms suppliers and international governments to achieve our shared goals of a more competitive and vibrant telecoms supply market.”

A request for comment regarding the new deadline for U.K. carriers to halt the installation of its 5G kit has been sent to Huawei.

The company continues to dispute the security concerns raised regarding its operations.