(Yicai Global) Dec. 17 -- The ruling by a Swedish appeals court yesterday that Huawei Technologies has the right to pursue legal action against the Swedish government for banning it from the country’s fifth-generation wireless network over national security concerns, is of great significance, the Chinese telecoms giant said today.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority did not follow due process and failed to consult Shenzhen-based Huawei before deciding to exclude it, and compatriot ZTE, from its 5G spectrum and requiring them to remove their existing kit by 2025, Huawei said, citing the court verdict.

PTS was forced to suspend the auction of 5G network frequencies last month when the Administrative Court of Appeal in Stockholm filed a temporary injunction against the ban on Nov. 9 while it reviewed the matter.

Huawei contested the ban at the time, saying that it lacks legal basis and would have a detrimental effect on its business.

Now that the judgment has been made, the auction, which is essential for the deployment of 5G across Sweden, can go ahead. However, the regulator might still delay proceedings until Huawei’s legal challenge has been heard in court.

PTS responded yesterday by saying it will contact all parties involved and that the sale is not likely to take place this month.

Editor: Kim Taylor