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Huawei risks can be managed, UK cyber chiefs conclude

Any risks from using equipment made by Chinese tech firm Huawei in the rollout of 5G networks can be managed, UK cyber security chiefs have concluded.

The assessment from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), first reported by the Financial Times, comes despite accusations from the US that Huawei's products could be used for spying by the Chinese government.

Australia and New Zealand have joined the US in effectively barring Huawei from new ultra-fast networks while a number of other countries, including in Europe, are considering a ban.

In Britain, BT and Vodafone have already suspended the use of the company's components in their networks .

Huawei - which is the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment - has denied that its equipment presents a security risk.

A source told the FT that the conclusion by UK cyber chiefs would "carry great weight" with European leaders since the UK has access to highly sensitive US intelligence.

They could make the argument that if Britain was confident of mitigating any risks from Huawei, then they too would be "acting in a prudent manner" by allowing their networks to use its components as long as they took similar precautions, the source said.

Alex Younger, head of intelligence service MI6, last week acknowledged concerns about the Chinese company but said it was "a more complicated issue than 'in or out'".

Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada in December and faces possible extradition to the US on charges of violating sanctions on Iran.

:: Huawei - why Western governments are worried

The NCSC did not directly comment on the FT report but reiterated earlier concerns about Huawei's engineering and security capabilities.

It said: "We have set out the improvements we expect the company to make."

A spokesperson for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: "The British government's review of the right policy approach to 5G security and resilience is ongoing.

"The review is looking at a range of options and will conclude in the spring.

"No decisions have been taken and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate."