Chinese vendor Huawei is reportedly close to gaining security clearance to supply the London Underground with a mobile network in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
The UK government does not intend to object to the plan, which is still subject to…
Chinese vendor Huawei is reportedly close to gaining security clearance to supply the London Underground with a mobile network in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
The UK government does not intend to object to the plan, which is still subject to commercial negotiations, reported the Financial Times.
Under Huawei’s reported proposal, the group will provide the necessary equipment for free, with the aim of managing the network to gain revenue.
Intelligence agency GCHQ is investigating whether the network could pose a threat to national security, but has not issued warnings to ministers about any risk, the report adds.
This appears to contrast with attitudes from across the Atlantic, where “misperceptions and rumours” have affected its reputation and the US government’s judgment on the company, Huawei USA chairman Ken Hu said last month.
Ken Hu was responding to allegations that the company had links to the Chinese military because its founder, Ren Zhengfei, was once an officer in the People’s Liberation Army.
These concerns have proved inhibitive to the group’s strategy to expand into the West, most recently scuppering a deal to acquire patents from US servers company 3Leaf Systems.
However, Huawei opened up a security unit in the UK late last year to address security issues, allowing the government’s Communications Electronics Security Group to test its hardware and software.
Previously, UK mobile operators Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, O2 and Three had been rumoured to be negotiating to share the £100m-plus costs to extend mobile coverage throughout the train network.
Back in September, a spokesperson for Greater London Authority (GLA), the local government administrative body, confirmed to TelecomFinance that discussions with mobile operators and suppliers were ongoing.
A spokeswoman for the government declined to comment on the bidding process, describing it as a “commercial matter”. Huawei could not be reached by the press deadline.
According to a spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL), “Transport for London and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep Tube network.
“Given the financial pressures on TfL’s budgets, any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare or taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing.”
Chinese vendor Huawei is reportedly close to gaining security clearance to supply the London Underground with a mobile network in time for the 2012 Olympic Games.
The UK government does not intend to object to the plan, which is still subject to commercial negotiations, reported the Financial Times.
Under Huawei’s reported proposal, the group will provide the necessary equipment for free, with the aim of managing the network to gain revenue.
Intelligence agency GCHQ is investigating whether the network could pose a threat to national security, but has not issued warnings to ministers about any risk, the report adds.
This appears to contrast with attitudes from across the Atlantic, where “misperceptions and rumours” have affected its reputation and the US government’s judgment on the company, Huawei USA chairman Ken Hu said last month.
Ken Hu was responding to allegations that the company had links to the Chinese military because its founder, Ren Zhengfei, was once an officer in the People’s Liberation Army.
These concerns have proved inhibitive to the group’s strategy to expand into the West, most recently scuppering a deal to acquire patents from US servers company 3Leaf Systems.
However, Huawei opened up a security unit in the UK late last year to address security issues, allowing the government’s Communications Electronics Security Group to test its hardware and software.
Previously, UK mobile operators Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile, O2 and Three had been rumoured to be negotiating to share the £100m-plus costs to extend mobile coverage throughout the train network.
Back in September, a spokesperson for Greater London Authority (GLA), the local government administrative body, confirmed to TelecomFinance that discussions with mobile operators and suppliers were ongoing.
A spokeswoman for the government declined to comment on the bidding process, describing it as a “commercial matter”. Huawei could not be reached by the press deadline.
According to a spokesperson for Transport for London (TfL), “Transport for London and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep Tube network.
“Given the financial pressures on TfL’s budgets, any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare or taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing.”
