BT asks for more time as ban on Huawei equipment approaches

BT's headquarters in central London. The firm has said removing Huawei equipment from its core network where personal data is processed will cost it £500m. Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters

BT has requested an extension to the UK government’s deadline for removing Huawei equipment from its network, following a ban on using the Chinese company’s equipment because of data security concerns.

BT, which has said the removal of Huawei equipment from its core network where personal data is processed would cost it £500m, has lodged a request with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.