Huawei expands 5G testing in UK

Bloomberg

Huawei Technologies Ltd. has signed contracts with all four UK mobile networks to test its fifth-generation wireless equipment, deepening the Chinese vendor’s involvement in UK’s
telecom industry as officials weigh whether to ban the company over security concerns.
Huawei’s 5G gear was already being tested by BT Group Plc’s EE, CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s Three UK and Vodafone Group Plc.
A few weeks ago, the Shenzhen, China-based company signed a contract to test equipment across 200 sites in London with Telefonica SA’s UK carrier O2, spokesmen for Huawei and O2 said. There is
no guarantee the tests will lead to supply contracts.
“We are testing Huawei radio equipment before we deploy it on some of our cell sites in London,” said an O2 spokesman by email.
“We do this with all vendors in order to drive optimum network performance for our customers.”
The contract was signed “weeks ago,” said the Huawei spokesman — before scrutiny of the company intensified with the dramatic arrest of its Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou in Canada. The agreement was first reported by the Financial Times newspaper.