Huawei's commitment to the UK comes at a time when the US has declared that it poses a threat to its national security because of the potential for spying and data theft that could be done on behalf of the Chinese government through infrastructure based on the companies' equipment.

In contrast, Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed Huawei with open arms after it promised a £1.3 billion investment up until 2017 in research, development, centres of excellence and procurement.

Speaking today at a Huawei event on superfast broadband in London, Sir Andrew Cahn, chairman of the Huawei UK advisory board, said that the company invested in the UK because it isn't put off by foreign companies' money.

He said: "Why did Huawei choose to invest so much in the UK? I can put it down to a few simple things - the UK is open to investment, open to innovation and open to foreign companies.

"The welcoming that the Prime Minister offered to Huawei was warm and encouraging. Of course it's not just about the open market, but the UK is also a centre of innovation. But, at the bottom of it all, it's because of the welcome Britain offers to Huawei."