British Parliament Wakes Up To Huawei

The Westminster Parliament's Science and Technology Committee has urged the Government to plan for other emerging technologies to avoid the row over 5G and Huawei equipment and they have released a report highlighting the UK's dependence on just two 5G vendors, which it claims, poses a risk to national security. 

The proposals are in response to the deployment of 5G in the UK, which saw Chinese firm Huawei ultimately excluded from the process on security grounds, leaving the country reliant on only two equipment vendors while causing a likely delay to the full installation of 5G networks.

While the government did eventually act on expert security advice and banned Huawei’s 5G the legislation took so long that it left the UK with just Ericsson and Nokia as 5G partners. The 5G strategy has come too late and will take years to achieve any success, according to MP Greg Clark, who is the committee's chair.  "A lack of strategic foresight in 5G has seen the UK become dependent on only two vendors for a crucial technology...We must learn from this experience to avoid making our economy and security vulnerable from a lack of acceptable alternatives in emerging technologies."Clark said. 

Advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Quantum Computing are examples of emerging technologies that, like 5G, can be potential threats to personal and national security.

Greg Clark called for a clear, proactive strategy to avoid a similar situation to the Huawei saga, criticising the UK government's 5G diversification strategy. "The government needs to take an activist approach to encourage research and development, and must now co-operate internationally to build common regulatory approaches with like-minded nations." he said.

The Parliamentary Committee's main concern is that these technologies develop at a faster rate than anything seen before, that time was  being lost and that the government needs to lay out a  formal strategy to avoid a future  dependence on a small number of  technology vendors, let alone one. 

A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman said: “The security and resilience of 5G and other emerging technologies is a top priority and our £250 million strategy to tackle this global issue head-on is the first of its kind in the world
.. We are working at pace with international and industry partners on solutions and establishing a National Telecommunications Lab to open up new economic opportunities in mobile technology.”

UK Parliament:     ITPro:        Belfast Telegraph:      BBC:       News&Star:     Image: Unsplash

You Might Also Read:

5G Will Disrupt Cyber Security:

Google Blocks Huawei From Android:

« Get Your Cyber Security Plan In Place Now
3D Secure Authentication: What Is it, And Why Do I Need It? »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity, Inc.

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

Authentic8

Authentic8

Authentic8 transforms how organizations secure and control the use of the web with Silo, its patented cloud browser.

NordLayer

NordLayer

NordLayer is an adaptive network access security solution for modern businesses — from the world’s most trusted cybersecurity brand, Nord Security. 

CSI Consulting Services

CSI Consulting Services

Get Advice From The Experts: * Training * Penetration Testing * Data Governance * GDPR Compliance. Connecting you to the best in the business.

Syxsense

Syxsense

Syxsense brings together endpoint management and security for greater efficiency and collaboration between IT management and security teams.

RIVA Solutions

RIVA Solutions

RIVA provides innovative best practices in IT and management consulting, program support services and emerging technologies.

Privacy Professor

Privacy Professor

Privacy Professor provides information privacy, security and compliance services, tools and products to organizations in a wide range of industries.

The Josef Group (TJG)

The Josef Group (TJG)

The Josef Group Inc. is a certified woman-owned permanent staffing agency specializing in Information Technology, Engineering, and US Government "cleared" IT candidates.

DLA Piper

DLA Piper

DLA Piper is a global law firm with offices throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Practice areas include Cybersecurity.

Firebrand

Firebrand

Firebrand is the leader in Accelerated Learning in the field of IT and project management.

Data Recovery Services (DRS)

Data Recovery Services (DRS)

DRS provides data recovery services from media including hard disk drives, RAID, solid state disks SSD, memory sticks, USB drives, SD cards, tapes and mobile phones.

Subex

Subex

Subex leverages its award-winning telecom analytics solutions in areas such as Revenue Assurance, Fraud Management, Asset Assurance and Partner Management, and IoT Security.

Sumo Logic

Sumo Logic

Sumo Logic simplifies how you collect and analyze machine data so that you can gain deep visibility across your full application and infrastructure stack.

SANS CyberStart

SANS CyberStart

SANS CyberStart is a unique and innovative suite of tools and games designed to introduce children and young adults to the field of cyber security.

Cybersecurity Tech Accord

Cybersecurity Tech Accord

The Cybersecurity Tech Accord promotes a safer online world by fostering collaboration among global technology companies.

Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII)

Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII)

CyManII was established to create economically viable, pervasive, and inconspicuous cybersecurity in American manufacturing to secure the digital supply chain and energy automation.

ZEBOX

ZEBOX

ZEBOX is an international incubator & accelerator of innovative startups. Focus is on Transport/Logistics and Industry X.0 including technologies such as AI, Blockchain and Cybersecurity.

Cyble

Cyble

Cyble Vision enables faster detection of cyber threats and focuses on identifying and analysing the motivations, methods, capabilities and tools of adversaries.

ISARR

ISARR

The ISARR software platform - your bespoke Risk, Resilience & Security Management solution. Simple, cost effective and adaptable, now and into the future.

Quantinuum

Quantinuum

Quantinuum is the combination of Cambridge Quantum with Honeywell Quantum Solutions, structured to drive the future of quantum computing.

Stryve

Stryve

Stryve is a leading carbon-neutral provider of specialist cloud and cybersecurity services in Europe.