Leaks following from the high-level discussion on the United Kingdom using Huawei Technology have called for government ministers to apply pressure for a ‘full and proper’ investigation. The decision, despite security risk warnings, was taken at the National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday. Government objectives, concerning national security, are discussed on a weekly basis by the council which is made up of senior cabinet ministers.
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright told the house of commons that “National Security Discussions should be confidential”. However, he did not discuss whether or not an investigation would take place.
Lord Ricketts, former National Security Adviser, told the BBC it was the first time anyone had committed a major leak from the NSC since it was established in 2010. He said he was in favour of a full inquiry, “to make the culprit feel very uncomfortable”.
News surrounding the leaked information has not been well received as there was already major concerns regarding involvement with the telecoms firm. Huawei, who has previously been accused of acting as a gateway for China to spy on Western nations, could be given a key role in constructing the new 5G data network, consequently leaving the UK network open to espionage.
What Was Leaked?
The meeting, involving senior cabinet ministers, was to decide whether or not the United Kingdom would allow Huawei equipment to be used as part of the construction of the new 5G data network. This is a decision that, for national security, could ultimately have huge consequences.
Fears that Huawei could share sensitive information with China, has led the United States to advise all western allies to block the telecoms company from critical infrastructure. Huawei has rejected claims that they are controlled by the Chinese government or there are any risks associated with the deal.
Why Is This Leak So Serious?
You may be asking yourself, “Why is this leak so serious? Information is leaked all the time”.
The reason for the severity behind this leak is that The National Security Council is allegedly one of the only places extremely sensitive intelligence can be shared with ministers. All that are present during the meeting have to sign the Official Secrets Act, allowing them exposure to highly secret intelligence.
Sir Nicholas Soames, Conservative backbench MP, said that the leak would “cause our friends and allies to wonder if we can be considered reliable – whoever is responsible should be dismissed from the Queen’s service”.
Defying this act potentially puts the agents of Britain’s three intelligence agencies – MI5, GCHQ, and MI6 in danger.
What Is 5G?
The current mobile network coverage we use is 4G which offers, on average, speeds of around 45mbps (megabits per second). The next generation of mobile network is 5G which is reported to launch in the UK by the end of 2019. The four main network operators have confirmed the locations of their launches, however, exact dates have not yet been confirmed.
The new 5G network promises substantially faster download and upload speeds than the current 3G and 4G networks, as well as greater coverage and also a more reliable, stable connection. 5G network will also increase the capacity, allowing large volumes of devices to be used simultaneously, ranging from smart street lighting to mobile phones.
Read more on 5G requirements and 5G mobile network reports.
