(Yicai Global) Dec. 6 -- British network provider BT has confirmed it will not consider bids from Chinese telecommunications company Huawei for 5G network contracts.

The decision comes after UK security officials and those in other nations have placed increasing pressure on network providers to review their dealings with Chinese telecommunications companies.

"Huawei have not been included in vendor selection for our 5G core," a BT spokesperson said. "Huawei remains an important equipment provider outside the core network, and a valued innovation partner."

5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile networks which will be faster and have greater capacity than previous iterations. 5G rollout in the UK is rumored to begin in late 2019.

Huawei said it will continue to collaborate with BT despite being left out of the 5G vendor process.

"Huawei has been working with BT for almost 15 years," a Huawei spokesperson said. "Working together, we have already completed a number of successful 5G trials across different sites in London, and we will continue to work with BT in the 5G era."

BT also confirmed that it is in the process of removing Huawei components from core parts of its 4G network, though it will keep less significant equipment supplied by the Chinese company.

BT said the removal of hardware aligns with company policy to keep Huawei on the margins of its 4G infrastructure in the UK.

Australia blocked Huawei and fellow Chinese telecoms company ZTE from providing 5G equipment in August and New Zealand banned Huawei in November.

Huawei has been effectively banned from the United States since 2012 when a congressional probe raised national security concerns.