I guess you already know where I’m heading with this post – yep, the British government’s decision to use Huawei technology as a technological component within our 5G infrastructure has caused panic.
Inhibiting access to sensitive areas
In a ‘WTF?’ reaction to “What did the British government just do?” countries such as Australia and New Zealand have already discarded any or rather, all possibility of using Huawei technology. Most notable is the hysteria emanating from the United States, who is currently pleading with the British government to rethink their decision, firing a caustic warning that this could affect a UK/US trade deal following Brexit this Friday, along with a reassessment of intelligence sharing.
I believe that the government’s decision is a measured and considered risk, where Huawei’s technology will not have a pivotal role in building ‘core’ infrastructure. Instead, it will be instrumental in developing ‘non-core’ topologies. What’s more, Huawei’s technology will be inhibited from the most crucial and vulnerable areas of our network, where perhaps sensitive data is shared.
A tricky situation
With so many governments across the world having serious reservations about using Huawei technology it, alas, does raise the adage, “There’s no smoke without fire”. US intelligence has accused the company of being funded by the Chinese state, while UK’s National Security Centre has said, “the company posses a threat to national security”.
Nevertheless, it seems Boris Johnson’s high-risk and calculated gamble despite potentially affecting our relationship with our closest ally does, in turn, leverage Britain’s UK-China trade relationship, since China is expected to become the world’s biggest economy – this is, of course, Johnson’s endeavour to ensure the UK economy continues to blossom following our exit from the EU. In fact, the US has even sent a team from the Trump administration to change British minds, but it is hoped that our long-term standing relationship will help us navigate our way forward out of this tricky situation without the need for Boris to back down.
Until next time…
The world will be closely watching the ongoing technical challenges faced by incorporating Huawei technology into our infrastructure and I am sure that, with such known risks, if Huawei’s technology becomes troublesome, then just like those people affected with the Coronavirus, it will be strictly quarantined.
So, this is where a ‘very cautious, yet hopeful’ Dr G, signs off.
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