#Huawei defends role in UK’s 5G network and warns against U-turn after pandemic

Chinese telecoms company Huawei has defended its role in the development of 5G in the UK and said disrupting its involvement would "do Britain a disservice". The move comes after a Tory backbench attack on the company’s involvement in the rollout of the advanced system in the UK, writes Imogen Braddick.

The telecoms giant has said it would be a “disservice” to the UK if it was stopped from being involved in the new generation of data networks, according to reports. Prime Minister Boris Johnson approved the Chinese company having a limited stake in the UK’s 5G development in January.

The move caused tensions with the US administration of President Donald Trump and raised concern among some Tory backbenchers, including former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith. Some Tory MPs raised concerns about security issues if the Chinese firm is involved in the UK's 5G rollout.

But Huawei said it was keen to keep British people connected during the coronavirus outbreak. In an open letter, Huawei’s UK chief Victor Zhang said that there had been a 50 per cent increase in home data use during the course of the virus outbreak in the UK. Zhang said the coronavirus crisis has highlighted how many people are "stuck in a digital slow lane", warning that excluding the company from a future role in 5G would be a mistake.

He wrote: “There are those who choose to continue to attack us without presenting any evidence. “Disrupting our involvement in the 5G rollout would do Britain a disservice.”

The letter from Huawei comes after three mobile phone masts were set alight in Birmingham, Liverpool and Belfast after conspiracy theories blaming 5G for the spread of coronavirus gained traction on social media. Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director for NHS England, called the conspiracy theories "outrageous" and "absolute and utter rubbish".

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