Telecoms respond to Huawei ban

Friday 17 July 2020

Having used Huawei equipment in its 5G trials, Sure has confirmed it will cease use of the Chinese company's technology should it be outlawed by the States of Guernsey in the years to come.

The Committees for Home Affairs and Economic Development have clearly signalled their intention to follow the UK's lead in granting network access to the controversial tech giant.

Earlier this week, the UK Government announced there would be a ban on 5G operators purchasing Huawei equipment from 2021 and that any existing technology from the 'high risk' vendor would have to be removed from local networks by 2027. 

Alistair Beak, Chief Business Officer at Sure, said that while the firm had used Huawei in its trials, it had adhered to local, national and international security policies in doing so.

“Sure’s 5G trial, which provided customers free access to the mobile service for the first time in Guernsey, has proved that the technology has potential to deliver faster broadband speeds. 

Pictured: Alistair Beak speaking at a local 5G Summit.

“Throughout the trial, which incorporated Huawei’s 5G technology, we worked with the States of Guernsey, the Guernsey Competition & Regulatory Authority and UK authorities to adhere to local, national and international policies and standards of application, safety and security.  

“Sure’s decision on suppliers for 5G technology and the process for the issuing of 5G licenses for local telecoms operators has yet to commence.  

The company's 4G mobile network and other installed networks are not impacted by this decision, as it only relates to the future use of 5G.”

JT initially appointed ZTE - another firm now deemed to be 'high risk' due to its links with the Chinese Government - as its 5G partner back in 2018, but abandoned the deal because of those links. 

"As we announced at the time of our annual results in April, we’ve already taken the decision to move away from using ZTE, our current mobile network equipment provider," said a spokesperson. 

Pictured: Airtel uses Nokia as its core network infrastructure partner.

"Whilst it’s clearly up to the Government and regulators across the Bailiwick to make a decision on any timing and how closely they wish to be aligned with the UK on these matters, we see no issue with meeting the UK’s proposed schedule."

Airtel Vodafone's head of Technical Rohit Khullar said the ban would have no impact on the company.

"This decision from the UK government comes as no surprise given the much publicised national security concerns around high-risk vendors such as Huawei and ZTE," he said. "Airtel-Vodafone has always used Nokia as its core network infrastructure partner, and we are committed to using only tried, tested and trusted suppliers for any future technology rollouts such as 5G, therefore the ban has no impact on us."