A consultation has been launched with telecoms firms on proposed legal instruments to control the use of Huawei in UK networks.

UK telecoms providers have already begun to remove Huawei from the UK’s 5G networks following the government’s announcement in July 2020. As the next step in this process, the government is now required by the new Telecommunications (Security) Act to consult with industry on the proposed measures which would bring these controls on Huawei onto a legal footing.

In November the Act became law – giving the government the legal mechanism to restrict the use of high risk vendor equipment in public networks where deemed necessary and proportionate in the interests of national security. The new powers will ensure UK mobile networks remain safe and secure as 5G becomes progressively more embedded in our national infrastructure, industries and daily lives.

The legal instruments the government is consulting on are known as a ‘designated vendor direction’, which contains requirements that public telecoms providers would need to follow regarding use of Huawei equipment and services; and a ‘designation notice’ which categorises Huawei as a high-risk vendor.

The consultation will last for four weeks and is only open to public communications providers which would receive the direction, and Huawei, as the proposed designated vendor.

The direction, subject to the consultation, legally requires telecoms operators to:

• Remove all Huawei equipment from 5G networks by the end of 2027.
• Not install Huawei equipment in 5G networks, effective immediately upon the issuing of the final direction.
• Remove all Huawei equipment from the core of telecoms networks by 28 January 2023.
• Not install sanctions-affected Huawei equipment in full fibre networks, effective immediately upon the issuing of the direction. This includes any equipment for which the supply chain or manufacturing process has been altered due to the impact of US sanctions.
• Reduce the share of Huawei equipment to 35 per cent of the full fibre and 5G access (i.e. non-core) networks by 31 July 2023, six months later than previously announced due to the difficulties providers have faced during the pandemic.
• Remove Huawei high data rate intra-core and inter-operator transmission equipment – hardware which sends data across a network without processing it – from all networks by 31 December 2025.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said:

The government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of our phone and internet networks. Last year we brought in new laws to protect UK infrastructure from high-risk vendors and issue tough sanctions on providers which fall short of our high security standards. This consultation marks the next step in removing the risks posed by Huawei.

In July 2020 the government announced it would hold a technical consultation with full fibre operators regarding their use of Huawei equipment.

Following the conclusion of that technical consultation, the government worked with the National Cyber Security Centre to analyse responses. As a result, the proposed direction includes a ban on the installation of sanctions-affected equipment in full fibre networks, effective from the issuing of the designated vendor direction for Huawei.

The government considers that preventing any future installation of this equipment addresses the national security risk posed by Huawei in full fibre networks, but it will consider views from consultees before reaching a final decision.

This is not expected to impact the roll out of faster broadband. The telecoms industry remains committed to the government’s target of bringing gigabit broadband to at least 85 per cent of the UK by 2025.

The NCSC has been consulted throughout the drafting of the consultation documents and the government has given due consideration to the NCSC’s advice.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The targeted consultations are being conducted in accordance with sections 105Z3 and 105Z9 of the Communications Act 2003, as amended by the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021, for the Secretary of State to consult public communications providers which would be subject to a proposed designated vendor direction, relating to the use of Huawei equipment and services in the UK’s public telecoms networks, and Huawei as the proposed designated vendor.
• Responses to these consultations will be taken into account in decisions by the Secretary of State regarding any designated vendor direction or designation notice relating to Huawei. The government must work with providers and vendors to ensure that public networks are as secure as they can possibly be.

Shubho oporannho. (Good afternoon.) Ami ekhane ashte pere anondito. (I am very happy to be here.)

I am delighted to address the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity this afternoon, the last day of Bengali winter – my favourite season.

A free media is the cornerstone of a free society. The press role in holding the powerful to account – including in uncomfortable ways – is a key counter to corruption and vested interests.

As George Orwell said, ‘Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticise and oppose’.

So I am constantly impressed by the courage and commitment of journalists in Bangladesh despite the many challenges I know you face, and I am delighted that we are able to support you through training and programmes.

With other Likeminded partners we are leading the Media Freedom Coalition and this will continue to be a key element of the High Commission’s work in Bangladesh.

This is an excellent time to be British High Commissioner in Dhaka.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK and Bangladesh, following Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic press conference at Claridges’ Hotel, his meeting with PM Edward Heath and his return to a newly liberated Bangladesh by the Royal Air Force.

In the intervening half century the relationship has been transformed.

In the 50th year of Brit Bangla Bondhon, we are building on all the links that exist between Bangladesh and the UK, including the diaspora, the 600,000 people living in the UK with Bangladeshi heritage, and the much wider range of links that exist between us on security, defence, climate, COVID-19, trade, and a whole range of issues on which we work very closely with friends and partners in and beyond government in Bangladesh.

We do this in line with our global strategy. Last year we published an Integrated Review of our foreign policy after leaving the European Union. A key element is what we call an Indo Pacific Tilt, a rebalancing of our policy, in which Bangladesh plays an important role.

The Indo-Pacific is the fastest-growing economic region in the world, a crucial transit point for global trade.

The UK has Europe’s broadest, most integrated regional presence, in support of stronger trading links, shared security priorities and shared values.

We are engaging more deeply in the region on many of the most pressing global challenges – from climate and biodiversity to maritime security and geopolitical competition linked to rules and norms.

And those norms have never looked more important, or more threatened, than they do today. Unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine would be a disaster for everyone, including Russia.

UK ministers have been at the forefront of international efforts to find a diplomatic solution, and the UK has been providing Ukraine with the weapons and training it needs for self-defence.

Here, we are working with British businesses in building a trade and development relationship as Bangladesh graduates this decade from a Least Developed to a Middle Income Country.

This is an extraordinary national achievement, based on decades of good policy making. I’m delighted that the Hon Prime Minister and other senior people promoted the opportunities at a Roadshow in London and Manchester last year.

Graduation is a milestone not a finishing line and we are supporting Bangladesh achieve a smooth and successful graduation and continue its export-led growth by providing duty-free, quota free access to the UK market until 2029.

We are Bangladesh’s second largest investor, and we will continue to work with Bangladesh to deliver free and fair trade by improving the functioning of the WTO and modernising global trade rules.

The last year has been significant for UK-Bangladesh trade relations as the inauguration of the UK-Bangladesh Trade & Investment Dialogue.

This addressed tackling market access barriers and improvements to the business environment to promote free and fair trade between the UK and Bangladesh, and help UK companies realise the potential of Bangladesh’s impressive economic growth, to the benefit of both countries’ prosperity.

As Bangladesh prospers we hope to see the market becoming more open to international investment, especially for the high value financial, education and health services in which the UK leads the world.

I see a particular opportunity for universities if the Cross Border Higher Education Rules can be implemented. UK universities are interested in the opportunity in Bangladesh, and would like to establish the sort of presence they have in Sri Lanka or Malaysia.

This would give young Bangladeshis access to a world class education at a competitive price. And it would give Bangladesh the skills which will be needed to thrive as a middle income country.

More broadly, our view is that long term stability and economic growth flourish best in open and democratic societies with strong institutions, public accountability and competitive elections.

So with international partners, we support the plural and transparent democracy in Bangladesh provided in the Constitution, including urging a fair and credible process for the elections due at the end of 2023.

This means first, allowing all parties to organise and be heard in advance of the election so that there is a real debate about the future of the country. Second, it means everyone can cast their vote freely. Third, it means the votes being counted reliably and transparently. And finally, it means credible results being accepted by all parties, including those who did not win.

Milestones such as the Election Commission formation process send a signal on the trajectory of this administration. Strong commitments from all parties on a free and fair process would help set the tone, including inclusive and non-partisan Election Commission oversight for the contest due next year.

The strongest, safest and most prosperous societies are those in which everyone can live freely, without fear of violence or discrimination, and where all citizens can play a full and active part. This year, the UK will host a global equality conference to promote the fundamental human rights we all share. This includes empowering women and girls, and standing with those who support tolerance and religious freedom, as set out in Bangladesh’s Constitution, which enshrines freedom of expression and religion.

We stand with those who support tolerance and religious freedom, as set out in Bangladesh’s Constitution, which enshrine freedom of expression and religion.

We’re also working together on regional security, including the Rohingya crisis. Our shared aim is to see voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation for the Rohingya as soon as conditions in Myanmar allow.

Bangladesh continues to be extraordinarily generous in its response. The refugees have access to healthcare, food, shelter and water and sanitation.

We have seen generosity in the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines for refugees. However, despite progress, the situation remains challenging both for the Rohingyas, especially for women, and for their hosts in Bangladesh.

We are leading donor to the international response to the Rohingya refugee crisis having contributed over £320 million since 2017 to support both refugees in the camps and host communities including in building resilience against COVID-19.

At the same time, the Rohingya crisis is a tragedy for all involved. No one chooses to live in a refugee camp, or to host a large influx of displaced people. As with so many other refugees worldwide, the great majority of the Rohingya population say they want to return home.

We are ensuring the Rohingyas and Bangladesh are not forgotten. We raise the plight of the Rohingya on the international stage, including in the UN Security Council. As a new Dialogue Partner of ASEAN we support the efforts of the ASEAN Special Envoy.

We are supporting the COVID-19 pandemic response in Bangladesh. We have been supporting the Bangladesh Ministry of Health to develop a well-coordinated national response plan, resourced by all the development partners and the Government of Bangladesh.

Last December we provided 4.1 million vaccines under COVAX facility. We hope to provide more soon.

And 2021 was a good year for UK-Bangladesh defence relations, as a Royal Navy ship sailed to Chattogram after 13 years as part of our Carrier Strike Group (CSG21) deployment to the Indo Pacific region.

The visit highlighted our bilateral defence connections, taken forward again this week by strategic level training being provided by the UK to the Bangladesh National Defence College.

I am looking forward to talks soon to put this relationship on a more strategic basis.

The UK-Bangladesh Climate Partnership launched in January 2020 is strengthening cooperation across all COP26 priority themes: adaptation, clean energy, nature finance, and clean transport.

We will continue to exchange expertise, share technology, facilitate partnerships, and identify practical solutions to common climate challenges, with the shared aim of producing the real change we need to keep the rise in global temperatures below 1.5 degrees.

I think we can do more in this field as well.

So this is an exciting time for the UK here, as we work with an increasingly confident and outward looking Bangladesh, tackling shared challenges and grasping shared opportunities as we head into the next 50 years together.

I am delighted to be here as High Commissioner leading the effort in Dhaka.

Apnader jonno shubho kamona roilo (Best wishes) Sobaike onek dhonnobad. (Thank you, everyone.)

Further information

Email: Dhaka.Press@fco.gov.uk

Follow the British High Commissioner to Bangladesh on Twitter: @RCDicksonUK

Follow the British High Commission Dhaka on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin

The Prime Minister has been clear that the pandemic is not over but we must learn to live with Covid. Thanks to our improved understanding of the virus and successful vaccination programme we can now move away from government intervention to personal responsibility.

Surveillance systems and contingency measures will be retained to stand up if needed, such as increased testing capacity or vaccine programmes to respond to new variants.

The pandemic was the biggest public health emergency in a century and led to unprecedented challenges.

Lockdowns and other non-pharmaceutical interventions were necessary to save lives and protect the NHS as scientists and clinicians worked on a global scale to detect and respond to new variants, but they took a significant toll on lives and livelihoods.

For example, restricting face to face education has resulted in detrimental effects to children’s learning, mental health, development, and future earning potential. Mental wellbeing has been adversely impacted, particularly among young people and those living in deprived neighbourhoods.

The government and its advisors were clear from the start that vaccines were our way out of this pandemic. The UK was the first in the world to authorise the use and roll out the Pfizer and Oxford/Astrazeneca vaccines, with the first jab given in December 2020.

Since then, nearly 53 million people or 91% of the UK population have had one dose, and nearly 49 million or 85% a second. New treatments continue to be rolled out including antivirals that significantly reduce the risk of severe disease or death.

Vaccines, testing and public health guidance meant we were able to complete our Roadmap to unlocking England in 2021, and respond effectively to the Omicron variant over winter.

Plan B was implemented to slow its spread and get more jabs in arms. A successful campaign was launched – Get Boosted Now – offering all adults a booster dose by the New Year. Nearly 38 million boosters have now been administered. This, coupled with improved scientific understanding, meant restrictions were avoided and Government intervention in people’s lives can now finally end.

Pharmaceutical interventions, led by the vaccination programme, will continue to be our first line of defence and will remain open to anyone who has not yet come forward. The government will continue to be guided by JCVI advice on any necessary future vaccination programmes.

Public responsibility and an awareness of public health guidance should remain, as with all infectious diseases such as flu.

Further detail will be set out next week. The plan is expected to focus on:

• Removing regulations and requirements while emphasising public health advice, in line with long standing methods of managing a range of infectious diseases
• Protecting the vulnerable through pharmaceutical interventions and testing, in line with other viruses
• Maintaining resilience against future variants with ongoing surveillance capabilities
• Securing innovations and opportunities from the Covid response

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said:

Covid will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms. We’ve built up strong protections against this virus over the past two years through the vaccine rollouts, tests, new treatments, and the best scientific understanding of what this virus can do.

Thanks to our successful vaccination programme and the sheer magnitude of people who have come forward to be jabbed we are now in a position to set out our plan for living with covid this week.