How do you solve a problem like Huawei? The phone companies think they know, as they pour cash into open source software

Today, Boris Johnson is due to lead a meeting of his National Security Council, a group of the UK’s most senior politicians and spies.

The agenda for the meeting will be dominated by the topic that has cast a shadow over Britain’s relations with the US, the entire telecoms industry and ties with China. At last, the Prime Minister will decide whether to allow Huawei to supply mobile operators equipment for their 5G networks.

Allowing Huawei to continue to supply some kit in the UK, as is expected, is certain to be controversial. The US government has publicly warned allied countries not to use Huawei equipment, claiming that its closeness to the Chinese state and the country’s intelligence laws could mean that Huawei devices could be used for espionage in the future. Huawei executives have consistently denied this.

Yet even as the row reaches a climax, moves are already afoot to decisively break the hold Huawei has taken over the sector. While operators are lobbying to be allowed to buy from the Chinese giant this time, in the future they would love to be free of its influence.