British Telecom and Ericsson struck a multiyear partnership to boost the development of 5G private networks in the U.K., according to a May 31 announcement.

Under the partnership, BT can sell next-generation mobile network technology products to businesses and organizations in the manufacturing, defense and education sectors, among others. The partnership will also use the Ericsson Private 5G network solution for 5G.

The companies did not disclose financial details of the partnership but said it was a "multimillion-pound" deal.

In 2021, BT said it plans to launch 5G services across the U.K. through its EE Ltd. subsidiary by 2028.

BT and Ericsson's partnership on 5G private networks comes nearly two years after the U.K. ordered local telcos to stop using Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.'s equipment in their networks by 2021 over national security concerns.

The British government recently delayed stripping Huawei's gear from the country's telco networks to July 31, 2023, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.