Huawei to source £3 billion technology from UK

Huawei chairwoman Sun Yafang and UK PM Theresa MayHuawei Technologies said it will make procurement of £3 billion from the UK over the next five years.

Huawei Chairwoman Sun Yafang, who met with the UK Prime Minister Theresa May in Beijing in February, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the UK.

Huawei has worked with both leading telecom operators such as BT and Vodafone for over 12 years.

Huawei has two joint innovation centres in the UK, one in Ipswich with BT, and one in Newbury with Vodafone.

Huawei has three Research & Development (R&D) sites in the UK: the Centre for Integrated Photonics in Ipswich; Neul in Cambridge; and a centre in Bristol.

Huawei, a key investor in Europe, will be helping UK companies to increase exports to China as part of the procurement commitment.

Telecom equipment vendors such as Ericsson and Nokia never revealed their procurement strategy.

Huawei in 2012 announced its decision to invest and procure £1.3 billion in the UK over the five years from 2013-17. Huawei said that this target was significantly exceeded, and Huawei has invested and procured £2 billion in that period.

The China-based company employs more than 1,500 people in UK in 15 offices, including its head office in Green Park, Reading.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Thanks to the drive and innovation of UK business, backed by this Government, trade between the UK and China is already at record levels. This visit is an opportunity to further showcase the best of British and boost jobs and prosperity throughout the UK.”

Sun Yafang, chairwoman of Huawei Group, said: “We have been working with our major customers in the UK for more than twelve years, helping to build a better connected UK.”