Huawei cleared for 'limited role' in UK's 5G network - reports

Government set to ignore the US and include Huawei tech in 5G rollout

Huawei has been cleared to play a part in forming the UK's 5G network, according to reports.

Reuters has claimed that a meeting of government officials yesterday concluded that a "limited role" for the vendor would not pose a threat to the UK's cybersecurity, citing two people familiar with the matter.

The report added that the UK's National Security Council will meet next week to decide if and how Huawei's technology is utilised.

The government has been under pressure for the US to snub Huawei in the 5G rollout, citing national security concerns.

The US claims that Huawei's close ties to the Chinese government could facilitate espionage, which Huawei has consistently denied.

Earlier this month the US government reportedly told the UK that allowing Huawei's equipment into the 5G network would be "nothing short of madness".

The Guardian reported last week that the UK government views Huawei's technology as more advanced than that of its competitors' such as Ericsson and Nokia - a view that has also been pushed by network providers BT and Vodafone.

Many believe that the US' blacklisting of Huawei is a by-product of the trade war with China, which has seen the US slap tariffs on a range of goods manufactured in and imported from the Far East, forcing some vendors to overhaul their supply chains.