UK security experts seemingly not as worried about HUAWEI as those in US

A major U.K. security body has suggested any potential risk posed by HUAWEI’s 5G infrastructure would be manageable, according to the Financial Times yesterday.

The U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reportedly concluded that the potential infrastructure threats could be mitigated, despite other nations having recently outlawed HUAWEI equipment.

HUAWEI is currently under scrutiny outside of China, as it has been suggested the company’s high-speed 5G infrastructure may be leveraged to conduct espionage. HUAWEI has always denied it is in collusion with its government.

One source told the Financial Times the NCSC findings, which are yet to be made public, would “carry great weight” among European leaders, as HUAWEI’s future there is debated. The news could also derail U.S. initiatives to persuade other nations to block HUAWEI.

According to the BBC, the U.K. government is set to decide in March or April whether U.K. networks such as Three, Vodafone, and EE, will be permitted to use HUAWEI technologies in the future.

What’s HUAWEI’s stance?

Huawei’s cybersecurity chief John Suffolk told the BBC HUAWEI is “probably the most open and transparent organization in the world.” Rather than take HUAWEI at its word, however, Suffolk invited security companies to investigate it.

“The more people looking, the more people touching, they can provide their own assurance without listening to what HUAWEI has to say,” he said.

Meanwhile, President Trump may issue an executive order in the coming days banning U.S. companies from using HUAWEI tech.

Read next: If HUAWEI has a security problem, what exactly is it?