LONDON: The British government has said it will collaborate with Japan’s NEC Corp. on the development of fifth-generation, or 5G, wireless communications networks.

The announcement came after the British government decided to kick China’s Huawei Technologies Co. out of the 5G market.

NEC will also establish a research base in Britain.

On Friday, when British International Trade Secretary Liz Truss was in Japan to sign the bilateral economic partnership agreement, the minister met with NEC Chairman Nobuhiro Endo to exchange opinions about future business developments.

The British government decided in July on Huawei’s exclusion at the strong request of the United States, an alliance partner of Britain, and had been looking for an alternative supplier of communications infrastructure.

The EPA with Japan became the first major trade pact signed by Britain since the country’s exit from the European Union. The deal includes ambitious provisions in digital transactions.

JIJI Press