BT’s technology leadership has said that Ericsson and Nokia have significantly improved their capabilities after replacing Huawei in the company’s 5G infrastructure, following a multi-year transition.
Greg McCall, BT’s chief technology head, highlighted that the telecom operator has fully removed Huawei from its 5G radio access network (RAN) and largely from its 4G footprint. The shift follows a UK government mandate in 2020 requiring operators to phase out Huawei equipment by 2027.
“We built the first and best 5G network using a particular vendor. We’ve now removed that vendor from our 5G network and built it again,” McCall said, adding that BT is not planning another large-scale overhaul anytime soon.
Ericsson now supports BT’s core network, while the RAN is split equally between Ericsson and Nokia. McCall noted that both vendors have “absolutely raised their game,” helping BT maintain competitive network performance even without Huawei.
The transition, which cost hundreds of millions of pounds, comes as part of BT’s broader 5G investment cycle. The company spends around £5 billion annually on capital expenditure but is now moving past the peak of its 5G investment phase.
BT’s EE network has been ranked the UK’s best mobile network 25 consecutive times by RootMetrics. According to Ofcom data, BT also leads in 5G population coverage, reaching 89% as of July 2025, ahead of competitors including Virgin Media O2, Three, and Vodafone.
McCall also addressed concerns about Europe lagging in 5G, stating that BT has already achieved nearly 70% coverage of 5G standalone (SA) in the UK, positioning it among the more advanced networks globally.
Looking ahead, BT is focusing on improving efficiency rather than increasing spending, aligning with its goal to boost free cash flow to £3 billion by 2030. The company is also exploring emerging technologies such as AI-RAN but remains cautious about large-scale investments in GPU-based infrastructure.
While mobile data growth has slowed to 10%–20% from pre-pandemic levels of 30%–40%, McCall expects rising demand from new devices like AR headsets and smart glasses to drive future network usage.
BT is also evaluating how to optimise its infrastructure footprint, potentially repurposing exchange sites and energy capacity to support next-generation compute needs.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter
About us:
The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.
