Huawei bid to overturn Australia 5G ban boosted by UK decision

Huawei says a UK decision shows Australia got ‘incorrect’ advice when it banned the Chinese telco from its 5G rollout.

Huawei believes Britain’s decision will help it overturn its ban from Australia’s 5G rollout. Picture: AFP

Huawei Australia has received a boost in its campaign to overcome Australia’s ban on its equipment in the multi-billion dollar 5G rollout after Britain agreed to its limited use in networks.

In a decision overnight, the UK will allow Huawei up to 35 per cent of the British market, where it competes with rivals Ericsson and Nokia.

The company will be banned from sensitive sites like military installations and nuclear power stations.

However the decision represents a snub to the US, which tried to talk the UK into banning Huawei on security grounds, as Australia did in 2018 on the urgings of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompei visits the UK on Thursday, when he is expected to express his disappointment at the move.

Huawei Australia is mounting a final lobbying campaign to overturn the Australian ban.

Britain’s decision could also influence Germany, which is yet to decide on its attitude to the Chinese base telecommunications equipment provider.

In a statement, Huawei Australia said it “warmly welcomes the decision by United Kingdom government, led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to allow Huawei to continue supplying its world leading 5G technology to UK mobile network operators.

“This decision means that – in line with the publicly expressed wishes of Prime Minister Johnson - the British people will get access the world’s leading 5G technology that will help spur the UK’s digital economy and foster greater innovation.”

Company spokesman Jeremy Mitchell said: “This decision by the UK government proves beyond doubt that there is a way to manage security on 5G networks without excluding vendors simply for being from a certain country.

“It also demonstrates that the Turnbull government was given incorrect advice that the core and radio networks cannot be separated on 5G – that is completely incorrect as the UK operators are now doing it in the real world,” he added.

Mr Mitchell said “by comparison, here in Australia we will all be paying more for inferior 5G technology and millions will wait much longer to get 5G or miss out altogether – especially in rural and regional Australia.”