UK, Europe Will Allow Some Huawei 5G Equipment

If anything still unites continental Europe and the U.K. after tonight's Brexit, it's deciding not to blanket ban Huawei 5G networking gear.

• Remember, the U.S. considers China's Huawei a national security threat and is trying to spread that gospel to the rest of the world.

On Tuesday, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Huawei equipment will be allowed in non-core sections of the country's 5G network. Huawei will be capped at 35% of the network's noncritical parts, which includes infrastructure like antennas and base stations.

• The U.S.' oldest ally is ruffling more than just 5G feathers...Johnson is pushing forward with a digital services tax targeting U.S. tech companies.

On Wednesday, the EU issued security guidelines that limit but do not exclude high-risk suppliers' equipment in 5G networks (a Huawei subtweet). The EU is leaving the "How much Huawei?" decision in the hands of its (now 27) member countries.

An interesting take: Australia's former top spy criticized the U.K.'s decision. He wrote that if his country had a law—like China does—that compelled companies to support government espionage, spies could be "awesome" and "no one would know" they were accessing networks.