A poll of IT professionals indicates that the UK’s decision to ban Huawei is unlikely to push the country “into the digital slow lane,” despite warnings from the company.
The survey, conducted by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, gathered responses from around 3,000 professionals working across the technology sector.
More than half of those surveyed rejected Huawei’s claim that a ban would damage the UK’s digital future or lead to higher consumer bills. Roughly one in five respondents were uncertain about the long-term impact.
By contrast, a clear majority believe that removing Huawei equipment from national mobile and broadband networks will strengthen the UK’s security posture.
“Huawei’s assertion that the UK would be thrust into a digital dark age without its equipment appears overstated to most IT professionals,” said Dr Bill Mitchell OBE, Director of Policy at BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
“While the survey shows broad support for the government’s decision, it also highlights a wider industry consensus that no 5G infrastructure can be regarded as completely trustworthy.”
Dr Mitchell added that the UK’s priorities should be accelerating the digitisation of the economy: expanding Digital Apprenticeships and T-Levels, investing in digitally led public services, and addressing the digital divide to support social and economic recovery after COVID-19 and Brexit.
A difficult year for Huawei
Huawei has faced mounting challenges this year.
Earlier in the year, after a multi-year security review, the UK initially allowed Huawei equipment in limited roles within its networks. That decision prompted significant controversy and criticism from some allies, Members of Parliament across the political spectrum, and human-rights organisations.
Concerns intensified as diplomatic tensions with Beijing escalated over issues including the situation in Hong Kong, the global coronavirus pandemic, allegations of state-sponsored cyber activity, and the treatment of Uighur Muslims.
Former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove told Sky News that Huawei “is not a sort of ordinary international telecommunications company; it’s an intimate part of the Chinese state,” highlighting worries about the blending of civil and military capabilities in Chinese strategy.
International reactions varied. Some countries emphasised continued economic engagement with Chinese firms while condemning human-rights abuses. The United States moved to restrict Huawei’s access to American hardware and software and announced visa limitations against individuals tied to companies accused of facilitating human-rights violations. Those measures led major firms such as Google to end certain business relationships with Huawei.
In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered Huawei equipment removed from Britain’s 5G networks by 2027 and banned telecoms companies from buying new Huawei kit after 31 December 2020.
Following that decision, the UK has opened consultations with close allies—particularly members of the Five Eyes intelligence partnership and other democratic nations—to coordinate funding and procurement of alternatives to Huawei equipment.
Respondents to the Chartered Institute’s survey generally view the 2027 deadline for Huawei equipment removal as achievable.
A full copy of the Chartered Institute for IT’s survey is available from BCS in PDF format.
(Photo by Florian Steciuk on Unsplash)
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