Cutting Huawei out of the UK's planned 5G networks would cost GBP 7 billion and delay the launch for years, according to a report from industry group Mobile UK. The mobile operators warned that blocking Huawei equipment from the UK's 5G infrastructure would lower inward investment, hit consumers and damage the UK's economic standing, the Daily Telegraph reports.
According to Mobile UK, the trade group representing network operators O2, EE, Vodafone and Three, restricting the use of Huawei equipment in the region would delay the launch of the fast network technology by between 18 months and two years. This delay would cost the UK economy between GBP 4.5 billion and GBP 6.8 billion, the report said.
"The importance of early 5G leadership to realise the economic benefits of the technology can’t be understated," the report said. "If any restriction were to be imposed on Huawei, many of the benefits associated with 5G leadership could be lost for good."
