Huawei in spotlight over use of US firm's software

Huawei Technologies is facing increased scrutiny in Britain because it is using an aging software component sold by a firm based in the United States, one of the countries where lawmakers allege its equipment could facilitate Chinese spying, sources told Reuters.

The fact that the British misgivings stem in part from Huawei's relationship with a US company shows how trade wars and heightened national security concerns are making it harder for technology firms and governments to safeguard products and communication networks.

A report last month by a British government oversight board charged with analyzing Huawei equipment said it had found technical and supply chain “shortcomings” which exposed the country's telecoms networks to new security risks.

One of those is due to Huawei's use of the VxWorks operating system, which is made by California-based Wind River Systems, said three people with knowledge of the matter, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity when discussing details which were not made public in the report.