Britain to give Huawei all-clear on security centre

Britain will clear Chinese telecoms equipment firm Huawei to run a UK-based cyber security centre if it agrees to tighter rules to allay spying and hacking fears, a person familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Huawei supplies software and equipment which channels phone calls and data around Britain and has found itself at the centre of a debate, particularly in the United States, over whether it is a risk for governments to allow foreign suppliers access to their networks.

Last year, the US House Intelligence Committee urged US telecoms companies not to do business with Huawei because it said potential Chinese state influence on the firm posed a security threat. Australia's government upheld a ban in October on Huawei bidding for work on its National Broadband Network, citing security agency advice.