BT fails deadline for Huawei equipment removal

BT, a telecommunications company based in the UK, has failed to meet the deadline of 31 December 2023, to remove Huawei equipment from its network core. The Telegraph initially reported that although BT has successfully eliminated Huawei equipment from its 4G and 5G services, it has yet to completely remove its 2G and 3G networks.

BT has stated that it has removed Huawei from all 4G and 5G data sessions and voice calls, resulting in more than 99 percent of core traffic now being processed without Huawei equipment, according to a spokesperson for the company, as reported by Bloomberg. The UK Government offered an extension for the removal of Huawei equipment, with the original deadline set for January 2023. BT had commenced replacing Huawei equipment when the plans to ban their equipment were first announced in 2021.

The UK government has warned network operators, including major player BT, of potential fines at 10% of revenue or £100,000 per day if they miss deadlines for removing Huawei equipment. BT estimated the removal cost at £500 million from 2020 to 2025. Uncertainty remains about BT’s fines, pending Ofcom’s compliance report, which is due by 31 March. BT affirms no further extension requests and commits to providing necessary information. The 2027 deadline mandates full Huawei removal from core and radio access networks. BT opts for Ericsson’s equipment as the replacement.