Nokia will replace Huawei kit used for BT / EE mobile networks

by Mark Tyson on 29 September 2020, 13:11

Tags: British Telecom (LON:BT.A), Nokia (NYSE:NOK), Huawei, Everything Everywhere

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Nokia has struck a deal with BT to become the majority supplier of networking hardware used for the firm's mobile networks. Nokia was already the supplier of BT/EE's 3G equipment and now BT has signed up to use Nokia kit for 2G, 4G and 5G services. BT had enjoyed a strong relationship with Huawei dating back to 2005.

The Nokia/BT announcement comes in the wake of the UK government's Huawei 5G equipment ban, which it announced this summer. As a reminder, the government set out the following Huawei hardware eradication timetable, on the grounds of national security and pressure from allies like the USA:

  • Buying new Huawei 5G equipment will be banned after 31 December 2020
  • All Huawei equipment to be removed from 5G networks by end of 2027
  • Existing ban on Huawei from most sensitive 'core' parts of 5G network remains

Mobile network equipment changes, especially those involving in-service equipment, are expected to cost billions across the telecommunications industry in the UK and will also impact the rollout schedule for 5G. The full deployment of 5G might be delayed by as much as three years due to the forces changes. "A massive job now awaits in stripping out Huawei and ensuring minimal disruption to customers," noted Paolo Pescatore, an analyst from PP Foresight.

Being dependent upon a single vendor isn't a great business move, so analysts expect that BT will soon announce support for a further vendor's equipment, at least for testing/contingency purposes. BT had previously picked Ericsson - to replace Huawei's equipment in its core networks (for the most sensitive data/voice communications) so it is likely to continue to become the secondary radio access network kit supplier to BT.

Sources: BBC, Belfast Telegraph

HEXUS Forums :: 29 Comments

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Posted by Wrinkly - Tue 29 Sep 2020 13:35
Obviously the costs incurred won't be passed on to the consumer :p
Posted by Spud1 - Tue 29 Sep 2020 13:39
What a huge waste of money. Totally ridiculous to rip out good quality, working equipment and replace it with another vendor like this.

Out of words to express how idiotic this is. So i'll go back to work and really hope the Nokia kit is better than the old ECI rubbish that they were busy replacing with Huawei.
Posted by Telekloud - Tue 29 Sep 2020 13:51
Spud1
What a huge waste of money. Totally ridiculous to rip out good quality, working equipment and replace it with another vendor like this.

Out of words to express how idiotic this is. So i'll go back to work and really hope the Nokia kit is better than the old ECI rubbish that they were busy replacing with Huawei.

Huawei isn't trustworthy, so not really.
Posted by Yoyoyo69 - Tue 29 Sep 2020 14:03
Telekloud
Spud1
What a huge waste of money. Totally ridiculous to rip out good quality, working equipment and replace it with another vendor like this.

Out of words to express how idiotic this is. So i'll go back to work and really hope the Nokia kit is better than the old ECI rubbish that they were busy replacing with Huawei.

Huawei isn't trustworthy, so not really.

…………..
Posted by Spud1 - Tue 29 Sep 2020 14:12
Telekloud
Huawei isn't trustworthy, so not really.

Taken from the mouth of Donald Trump that….we had a whole thread on this so I won't reignite that argument, but suffice to say, that is a very debatable point and those in the tech industry generally agree that it's a load of rubbish and this is really a US trade war issue (and by effect, a UK-US trade issue). Nothing to do with the hardware/governance/technology/ownership argument.

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