A leaked UK report indicates that recent US sanctions on Huawei have raised concerns about the vendor’s security posture, potentially prompting an earlier ban on its equipment in the country.
Earlier this year, the UK allowed Huawei to play a limited role in its 5G infrastructure—a decision that drew strong criticism from international allies, some members of Parliament, and human-rights organizations.
According to reports, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has instructed ministers to develop plans to remove Huawei equipment from national 5G networks entirely by 2023, amid worsening relations with Beijing tied to issues such as the handling of the coronavirus pandemic and Hong Kong’s autonomy.
Last week, US authorities formally designated Huawei and ZTE as national security threats. Those actions, together with broader US sanctions, have increased pressure on Chinese telecom vendors operating in Western markets.
In response, the UK government commissioned a review to assess how the US sanctions might affect the viability and security of using Huawei equipment in British networks.
“We are considering the impact the US’ additional sanctions against Huawei could have on UK networks,” the UK government said in a statement. “This is an ongoing process and we will update further in due course.”
The Telegraph has reportedly leaked the government’s assessment. The leaked document warns that the new restrictions on Huawei “will force the company to use untrusted technology that could increase the risk to the UK.”
Since 2010, the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC) has reviewed Huawei equipment for potential security weaknesses before it is deployed in UK networks. Until recently, HCSEC regularly concluded that any risks from Huawei gear could be mitigated.
However, the leaked report states that deficiencies in Huawei’s engineering processes have revealed fresh risks to UK telecommunications and present long-term challenges for mitigation and management.
Specifically, officials expressed concern about technical limits that hinder security researchers’ ability to fully inspect internal product code, and about the sourcing of components from external suppliers used in Huawei products.
The report suggests that worries over Huawei’s reliance on outside suppliers have intensified following the US sanctions. If accepted by ministers, these findings increase the likelihood that the UK will accelerate plans to remove Huawei equipment from its networks well before previously discussed timelines.
(Photo by Nick Kane on Unsplash)
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