U.K. bans Huawei from 5G network in a 'big win' for the Trump administration

The Huawei logo is seen on the side of the main building at the company's production campus on April 25, 2019 in Dongguan, near Shenzhen, China
(Image credit: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

The U.K. has pulled a reversal on Huawei.

Britain announced it will now ban equipment from Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications company, from its 5G wireless network, The New York Times reports.

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But in what Axios now describes as a "big win for the Trump administration," the U.K. on Tuesday said it would ban the company's equipment from the network after all, requiring equipment that has been installed already to be removed by 2027, the Times reports.

"As facts have changed, so has our approach," Oliver Dowden, government telecommunications minister, said. "This has not been an easy decision, but it is the right one for the U.K.'s telecoms networks, for our national security and our economy, both now and indeed in the long run."

The "about-face" from Britain, the Times wrote, "signals a new willingness among Western countries to confront China." According to the Times, this move is expected to "delay the rollout of 5G in Britain by around two years."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.