BT Dumps Huawei For Nokia 5G

Nokia has signed a 5G deal with BT in the UK and is set to become a major beneficiary of Huawei being blocked from the UK's 5G networks.

Nokia’s 5G deal will make it BT’s largest infrastructure partner. The move comes after the British Government decided to ban the Chinese firm from having a role in the country’s 5G network.

The Finnish telecoms firm will provide additional base stations and antennas to let EE customers' devices make calls and transmit data via the UK firm's 5G "radio access network".

In July the UK said that it would ban Huawei equipment from its 5G network rollout and it suggests Nokia is replacing Huawei’s remaining share of infrastructure in BT’s 5G network.  With this contract, Nokia will provide 5G equipment and services at around twelve thousand BT radio sites across the UK. 

The decision to remove Huawei was taken on national security grounds and brings to an end the commercial relationship between BT and Huawei that goes back to 2005.

Recently, BT announced that Nokia's equipment was used at about a third of its 4G sites, which were being upgraded to 5G, while Huawei's kit was used at the remaining ones.At present, Nokia's kit provides coverage to EE customers across parts of London, the Midlands and various rural locations. The latest deal will extend BT's use of its telecoms infrastructure products to further cities and towns including Aberdeen, Cambridge, Dundee, Exeter, Southampton and York.

Philip Jansen, CEO, BT Group said: “Digital connectivity is critical to the UK’s economic future, creating jobs and underpinning sustainable growth. That’s why BT is making game-changing investments in full fibre and 5G. In a fast-moving and competitive market, it’s critical we make the right technology choices...With this next stage of our successful relationship with Nokia we will continue to lead the rollout of fixed and mobile networks to deliver stand-out experiences for customers.”

Nokia is now set to account for about two-thirds of BT's radio access infrastructure and it is expected that BT will soon strike a deal to buy kit from a second vendor to avoid becoming solely dependent on Nokia once Huawei's equipment is banned outright.

A spokesman for Huawei claimed that reducing the number of infrastructure equipment providers risked "delaying the 5G roll-out and undermining diversity of supply so essential to network security".

The fallout for Huawei comes after the Government decided in July to ban the Chinese firm from having a role in the country’s 5G network, owing to tougher US sanctions restricting Huawei’s ability to build chip sets

 Nokia      CNBC:      BBC:          Belfast Telegraph:      AOL

You Might Also Read:

Rapid Deployment Of 5G Is A Headache:

 

« Chinese Hackers Spying On US Government Agencies
Business Phishing Attacks Increase With Coronavirus »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81

Directory of Suppliers

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

IT Governance

IT Governance

IT Governance is a leading global provider of information security solutions. Download our free guide and find out how ISO 27001 can help protect your organisation's information.

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. 

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Perimeter 81 / How to Select the Right ZTNA Solution

Gartner insights into How to Select the Right ZTNA offering. Download this FREE report for a limited time only.

Ripjar

Ripjar

Ripjar is a global company of talented technologists, data scientists and analysts designing products that will change the way criminal activities are detected and prevented.

ITrust

ITrust

ITrust develops breakthrough products in Cyber/Artificial Intelligence, offering its products in Europe, America and Africa through its partner network (VAR, MSSP, OEM).

PFP Cybersecurity

PFP Cybersecurity

PFP provides a SaaS solution for life-cycle protection based on our IoT security platform and power usage analytics.

MENTIS Software

MENTIS Software

MENTIS provides a comprehensive enterprise data security and breach prevention platform to protect sensitive information assets.

Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)

Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)

CCIA supports efforts to facilitate and streamline information sharing on cyber threats between the private sector and the Federal Government.

MD5

MD5

MD5 is a leading UK provider of Digital Forensic & eDiscovery services to large multi-national corporate businesses, Law Enforcement & Government Agencies, high profile legal firms.

Cybellum

Cybellum

Cybellum provides software risk assessment for DevOps and security executives, by detecting vulnerabilities automatically, without source code.

StrongKey

StrongKey

StrongKey (formerly StrongAuth) is a leader in Enterprise Key Management Infrastructure, bringing new levels of capability and data security at a price point significantly lower than other solutions.

Dathena

Dathena

Dathena is a company developing data governance software based on machine learning algorithms.

Fortalice

Fortalice

Fortalice provide customizable consulting services built on proven methodology to strengthen your business cyber security defenses.

GroupSense

GroupSense

GroupSense helps governments and enterprises take control of digital risk with cyber reconnaissance, counterintelligence and monitoring for breached credentials.

Elemental Cyber Security

Elemental Cyber Security

Elemental is a game changing cyber security compliance automation and enforcement technology provider.

Pivot Technology School

Pivot Technology School

Pivot Tech offers Data Analytics, Software Development and Cyber Security training in boot camp style cohorts.

Curity

Curity

The Curity Identity Server brings identity and API security together, enabling highly scalable and secure user access to digital services.

Cymune

Cymune

At Cymune we help businesses to fight against cybercrime, protect patented data and diminish security risks.

Quarkslab

Quarkslab

Quarkslab is a dedicated team of cyber-security engineers and developers. We aim at forcing the attackers, not the defender, to adapt constantly.