Europe Edges Out East: EU Moves to Phase Out Huawei and ZTE from Telecom Networks
The European Commission has initiated a legislative move to gradually phase out equipment made by Chinese technology companies Huawei and ZTE from the telecommunications networks of EU member states. According to a Bloomberg report, the Commission aims to introduce new regulations to strengthen the security of Europe’s telecom infrastructure, reports TechCrunch.
Back in 2020, the Commission had advised member states to refrain from using products supplied by so-called “high-risk” vendors. Now, Commission Vice President Henna Virkkunen is taking steps to transform that recommendation into a binding law. Once enacted, countries that fail to comply with the directive could face financial penalties.
Under the new proposal, the participation of Chinese firms in fiber networks and high-speed broadband projects will be restricted. Germany has already announced that it will stop using critical components from Huawei and ZTE starting in 2026, with Finland expected to follow suit.
Analysts view this move as part of a broader strategy to reduce China’s influence over critical infrastructure across Europe.
DBTech/BMT/OR
