‘Better than we hoped for’ as UK, EU leave door partially open for Chinese tech firm Huawei

Telecoms company will be able to take part in ‘non-core’ parts of Britain’s 5G networks, while EU also stopped short of blanket ban

Impact on Five Eyes spy alliance will be in spotlight when Mike Pompeo meets Boris Johnson on Thursday

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Controversial Chinese tech firm Huawei Technologies had a partial victory this week. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00pm, 30 Jan 2020Updated: 7:01pm, 15 Feb 2020

Embattled Chinese telecoms giant Huawei Technologies had a partial victory this week, with both Britain and the European Union ruling out a total ban on the company in their 5G markets – moves that caused dismay in the United States.

While Britain did block the company from taking part in the sensitive, or “core” infrastructure of the country’s 5G networks, it decided on Tuesday to allow Huawei to build up to 35 per cent of the “non-core” parts.

The European Commission also stopped short of a blanket ban the next day, saying EU member states could exclude – or simply restrict – high-risk 5G vendors like Huawei from core parts of their telecoms networks.

While both Britain and the EU have put in place checks on Huawei’s activities, neither followed Washington’s call to shut out the company whose equipment the US claims poses a national security threat.

“It’s better than we could’ve hoped for,” said one Huawei insider, who asked not to be named. “Europe, after all, had to choose sides between China and the US.”

But experts noted that the European decision was not entirely favourable for Huawei.