US Commerce Department said to be drafting rule to let Huawei, US firms work together on 5G standards
- Engineers in some US technology companies stopped engaging with Huawei to develop standards after the Commerce Department blacklisted the company last year
- In standards setting meetings, the Chinese company gained a stronger voice as US engineers sat back in silence, industry and government officials say
That has put the United States at a disadvantage, said industry and government officials. In standards setting meetings, where protocols and technical specifications are developed that allow equipment from different companies to function together smoothly, Huawei gained a stronger voice as US engineers sat back in silence.
After nearly a year of uncertainty, the department has drafted a new rule to address the issue, two sources told Reuters. The rule, which could still change, essentially allows US companies to participate in standards bodies where Huawei is also a member, the sources said.
The draft is under final review at the Commerce Department and, if cleared, would go to other agencies for approval, the people said. It is unclear how long the full process will take or if another agency will object.