British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has seen off a revolt by some of his party's MPs over allowing a role to Chinese tech giant Huawei in the country's future 5G networks.

Rebel Conservative Party members pushed for a vote for an amendment to the Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill, calling for an end to Huawei's participation in the UK's 5G network by the start of 2023.

However, parliament rejected the amendment, with the government defeating it by 306 votes to 282.

One of the rebels, Bob Seely, signaled the group would continue to push their cause, describing the vote as "a strong first showing."

The rebels had wanted to amend the bill to ensure that companies seen by British security experts as "high-risk vendors" – a category that includes Huawei – were out of UK networks completely by the end of 2022.

However, the government said that some network operators relied on Huawei, although they tried to placate the rebels by saying they would work towards increasing the supply of 5G telecoms gear so operators would not need to use the Chinese company.

But Conservative lawmakers, including Iain Duncan Smith, who put forward the amendment, were not convinced and wanted to see a clear timetable from the government on its plan to remove high-risk vendors altogether.

"I am always flexible on the date, providing the intent and commitment to eradicate the involvement of high-risk vendors from our system, across the board, full stop," Smith said.

Britain decided in January to allow Huawei into what the government called "non-sensitive" parts of the country's 5G network, capping its involvement at 35 percent.

This decision angered US President Donald Trump's government, which has urged the UK to rethink its decision, saying it is a security risk – a view the company rejects.

Digital minister Oliver Dowden said the government would work with international partners to increase the choice of vendors during this parliament, which is due to end in 2024.

"We would like to get to the point where we won't need to have any high-risk vendors at all," Dowden told parliament.

Mike Rake, the former chairman of broadband and mobile company BT, who is also an adviser to Huawei, said the Chinese firm had a vital role in building the 5G network Britain needs.

Any attempt to further restrict Huawei 5G equipment, or to remove existing 4G equipment, will not only incur very significant costs but prejudice trade relationships with China and will significantly set back the government's broadband ambitions," he said in an open letter.

"This, in turn, will further damage our competitiveness as an economy at what is a critical moment."