Nokia clinches 5G deal with BT to phase out Huawei's kit in EE network

Nokia will replace Huawei in parts of BT's radio access network after expanding the terms of its contract with the UK phone incumbent. The Finnish equipment vendor currently accounts for about one third of BT's radio access network (RAN), mainly covering less densely populated areas, with Huawei supplying the rest. But the operator is under pressure to comply with a 35% cap on Huawei in its 5G RAN by January 2023 as a result of measures introduced this year by the Boris Johnson-led government, which regards the Chinese vendor as a security threat. By 2028, BT and other UK operators will need to have entirely replaced Huawei in their 5G networks.