Vodafone pauses installation of Huawei equipment in Europe as spying tensions mount
Vodafone has said it will stop installing Huawei equipment in its network until there is greater clarity over whether Chinese authorities could use its products for spying.
Chief executive Nick Read said the company would temporarily stop the installation of new Huawei equipment in its core telecoms infrastructure in Europe.
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“We are taking this moment to pause Huawei whilst we engage with security agencies, governments and Huawei,” Read said.
Vodafone will not remove its existing Huawei equipment, but will not be adding to its network using Huawei products.
The comments come as tensions between Huawei and Western governments mount amid concerns Chinese authorities could use the firm’s equipment for espionage.
Read insisted there would not be significant costs should it decide to replace all Huawei 5G equipment, but said the process would take several years to resolve.
The Vodafone boss said Huawei has a 35 per cent market share in Europe, adding: “There needs to be a diversity of suppliers”.
He denied the decision had been made based on advice from governments or securities agencies, saying it was the result of “general noise across Europe”.
The move is the latest blow for Huawei, which has come under increased scrutiny in recent months.
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Last week the University of Oxford said it will suspend all funding and donations from the Chinese firm due to growing public concern.
A Huawei spokesman said: “Vodafone and Huawei are long-term strategic partners that have worked together since 2007.
“Huawei is focused on supporting Vodafone’s 5G network rollouts, of which the core is a small proportion. We are grateful to Vodafone for its support of Huawei and we will endeavour to live up to the trust placed in us.”