The UK has announced a new consultation over how equipment from Chinese telecom giant Huawei is used in UK 5G networks.

The government will discuss the proposed legal instruments to remove Huawei’s 5G kits with telecoms firms.

Recent years have seen a backlash against Huawei from Western governments, including the UK, Sweden, and US.

These countries were concerned over claims that the company was colluding with the Chinese state. As such, using Huawei’s technology and equipment in critical communications infrastructure could create national security weak points that China could exploit.

The UK’s Telecommunications (Security) Act aims to formalise a ban on the Chinese telecoms giant’s 5G kits. Coming into force in November last year, the act gave the government the power to restrict the use of high-risk vendor equipment in public networks where deemed necessary and proportionate in the interests of national security.

Though it did not name the company specifically, it effectively made it illegal to install Huawei’s kits in the 5G network, and requires current equipment to be removed by 2027.

As such, UK telecoms providers have already started removing Huawei products from the UK’s 5G networks. The next step in this process requires the government to consult with industry on the proposed measures, which would bring the controls on Huawei onto a legal footing.

The legal instruments the government is consulting on are known as a ‘designated vendor direction’, which contains requirements that public telecoms providers would need to follow regarding use of Huawei equipment and services; and a ‘designation notice’ which categorises Huawei as a high-risk vendor.

The consultation will last for four weeks and is only open to public communications providers which would receive the direction, and Huawei, as the proposed designated vendor.

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In addition to removing all Huawei equipment by the end of 2027, the direction currently requires telecoms operators to remove the company’s equipment from the core of telecoms networks by 28 January 2023.

Telecoms companies will need to ensure that Huawei equipment does not exceed 35% of the full fibre and 5G access (i.e. non-core) networks by 31 July 2023. This was pushed back six months from the original deadline due to the pandemic.

In addition, high data rate intra-core and inter-operator transmission equipment – hardware which sends data across a network without processing it – will need to be removed from all networks by the 31st of December 2025.

These requirements will be effective immediately upon the issuing of the final direction, should they not be amended after the consultation.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “The government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of our phone and internet networks. Last year we brought in new laws to protect UK infrastructure from high-risk vendors and issue tough sanctions on providers which fall short of our high security standards. This consultation marks the next step in removing the risks posed by Huawei.”

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