Yahoo Finance Is it safe to use a Huawei phone?
Huawei's 5G kit is set to be removed from the UK by 2027 amid concerns that it places Britain's national security at risk.
But what about Huawei phones? Concerns are mounting among consumers that devices built by the Chinese telecoms giant may also be a threat.
For now, the government doesn't believe they are a risk. The US sanctions and subsequent UK ban do not directly affect existing Huawei devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets.
However, as seen with the P40 handset, restrictions on dealings with US firms means it can no longer provide the full Android experience from Google. As a result, core apps such as YouTube and the Google Play Store cannot be provided.
The UK security guidance also does not necessarily mean the Government will not look at more intense restrictions on the manufacturer in the future.
In 2018, the US took a step in this direction after a panel of officials from the CIA, FBI, and Defence Intelligence Agency urged citizens not to buy Huawei phones.
In reference to the Huawei Mate SE, FBI director Chris Wray warned that devices give Chinese makers access or “control” to America’s telecoms system.
At the time Wray said that it could allow the company capacity to “maliciously modify or steal information”.
The accusation was strongly rebuffed by Huawei, which said that it was aware of moves by the US government that were aimed at “inhibiting” its business.
CMC Markets chief markets analyst Michael Hewson claims that a UK probe into Huawei phones is “inevitable”.
“A lot of this will depend by and large on the geopolitical relationship between the UK and Chinese Governments, and whether or not Huawei is successful in separating itself from the perception of interference from Beijing,” says Hewson.
“Personally I wouldn’t buy a Huawei handset because of that very risk.”
Huawei’s smartphone sales have enjoyed a swell in popularity in the UK in recent years. In 2019 it was Britain’s third-largest mobile phone provider behind only Apple and Samsung, according to figures from Strategy Analytics.
Globally, Huawei also holds many of the best-selling 5G phones. In the first quarter of this year, the company shipped 2.9 million Mate 30 5Gs, second-only to Samsung’s 5G S20+.
The Chinese manufacturer held its position despite sanctions from the US that forced it into creating its own operating system and dropping Google’s Android. Handsets like the P40 Pro and the P40 Pro Plus have also won plaudits for their impressive screens and cameras.
In its ruling on 14 July, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said that its work on the topic related “purely to Huawei equipment in the UK’s telecoms network”.
Huawei has constantly pleaded its innocence in the face of accusations of strong ties between itself and the Chinese government, insisting that it is 100 per cent owned by its employees.
While current devices should continue to work following its removal from the 5G network, the Americans’ stranglehold on chips could mean the supply of Huawei phones will be dented significantly.
