14 DAY TRIAL // Large tech companies, including here Intel, Qualcomm, mobile research firm InterDigital Wireless, and South Korean carrier LG Uplus, no longer allow employees to get in touch with Huawei engineers and discuss a series of topics regarding tech and technical standards, Reuters report.
The decision comes after Huawei was banned by the United States government from doing business with local companies.
As per Reuters, employees of several large tech companies participate to international meetings to discuss a series of technical matters, including the rollout of 5G mobile networks.
More recently, however, engineers representing a series of American firms were told not to interact with Huawei employees on such topics.
Intel and Qualcomm have already confirmed that they provided employees with information on how to comply with the government order, albeit they didn’t offer any specifics on whether these include restrictions regarding the technical standards discusses as the aforementioned meetings.
5G rollout likely impacted
At the same time, InterDigital told Reuters the company took a similar step to comply with US regulations, while LG Uplus confirmed employees have been requested not to discuss certain topics with Huawei officials.
“[The company is] voluntarily refraining from interacting with Huawei workers, other than meeting for network equipment installation or maintenance issues,” the South Korean carrier was quoted as saying.
Given Huawei’s involvement in the development of 5G mobile networks, the rollout of this standard is very likely to be affected, with one European company involved in the process describing the relationship as shaken.
Huawei has remained completely tight-lipped on all these decisions, but the company is believed to be investing big in alternatives that could help it reduce reliance on American firms. This involves the development of an in-house operating system that would replace Android and Windows, and at the same time in the transition to more parts built by manufacturers outside of the United States.