World

Government decision on 5G rollout delayed

July 23, 2019 5:29 am

A decision on whether controversial Chinese firm Huawei should be excluded from the rollout of 5G mobile phone networks in the UK has been postponed.

Culture secretary Jeremy Wright said the government is “not yet in a position” to decide what involvement Huawei should have in the 5G network.

Mr Wright said the implication of the recent US ban on its companies from dealing with Huawei was not clear.

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Until it was, he said the government would be “wrong” to make a decision.

“We will do so as soon as possible,” he told the House of Commons.

The US banned companies from selling components and technology to Huawei and 68 related companies on 15 May, citing national security concerns.

It later issued a temporary licence that enabled some companies to continue supporting existing Huawei networks and devices.