When BT acquired EE, another operator, in 2016 and realized that EE's core networks contained Huawei equipment, BT started removing Huawei equipment from those EE core networks in its post-merger integration stage, in accordance with this procurement policy.

"What BT did started in 2016, and has no links with security concerns at all," Xu explained.

And Xu's accounts were supported by BT.

A BT spokesman said in a statement: "Huawei remains an important equipment provider outside the core network, and a valued innovation partner."

The BT spokesman added that the company's actions have not changed at all since 2016.

"What has happened is that journalists have reported on existing programs that we have in place," he said.

Huawei has been effectively banned from the United States since 2012 when a congressional probe raised national security concerns. And Australia blocked Huawei and fellow Chinese telecoms company ZTE from providing 5G equipment in August. New Zealand's government followed suit in November.

Tension escalated when Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada while transferring in Vancouver for a flight to Mexico. Meng is the chief financial officer at Huawei and daughter of the company's founder, Ren Zhengfei.

The events pushed Huawei into the glare of the media spotlight, but Xu said Huawei's activities in the UK have so far been unaffected.

Huawei has been in Britain for more than 17 years, with its equipment checked and monitored by a special company laboratory overseen by government and intelligence operators. Earlier this month Huawei announced a new $2 billion commitment to improve its mobile and internet network systems globally.

Between 2012 and 2017, Huawei has invested or procured 2 billion pounds ($2.55 billion) in the UK, where it employs about 1,500 people. In February 2018, Huawei announced it planned to spend a further 3 billion pounds on British technology and services during the next five years.