UK Cellphone Carriers EE, Vodafone Pause Launch of Huawei 5G Phones
22 Mai 2019 - 2:37PM
Dow Jones News
By Adria Calatayud
U.K. cellphone carriers BT Group PLC's (BT.A.LN) EE and Vodafone
Group PLC (VOD.LN) have both suspended their launches of Huawei
Technologies Co. 5G phones, dealing another blow to the Chinese
company mired in a vortex of espionage allegations and
cybersecurity fears.
EE last week had said it would bring the Chinese company's first
5G-ready handset to the U.K., but on Wednesday said it decided to
hold the launch of the new Huawei handsets, as BT's consumer brand
prepares to roll out next-generation networks in six British cities
on May 30.
Vodafone on Wednesday said it is pausing pre-orders for a Huawei
5G smartphone model in the U.K.
"This is a temporary measure while uncertainty exists regarding
new Huawei 5G devices. We will keep this situation under review," a
Vodafone spokesperson said.
The moves follow last week's decision by the U.S. Commerce
Department to put Huawei on a trade blacklist that threatens to cut
if off from the American technology the Chinese group relies on for
its smartphones. U.S. officials had said Monday they would waive
that measure for 90 days for some suppliers, including Alphabet
Inc.'s (GOOGL) Google.
"We're working with Huawei and Google to make sure we can carry
out the right level of testing and quality assurance so our
customers have a great experience with any smartphones we range in
the future," an EE spokesperson said.
Huawei didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
EE said it will switch on its 5G networks in six U.K.
cities--London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh and
Belfast--next week. The company said consumers and businesses can
start pre-ordering new 5G-ready devices from Huawei rivals Samsung
Electronics Co. Ltd. (005930.SE), LG Electronics Inc. (066570.SE),
OnePlus and Oppo.
Write to Adria Calatayud at
adria.calatayudvaello@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 22, 2019 08:22 ET (12:22 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
BT (NYSE:BT)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Jan 2025 bis Feb 2025
BT (NYSE:BT)
Historical Stock Chart
Von Feb 2024 bis Feb 2025
