A new cybersecurity regulation project could make such measures mandatory for all EU countries. Officials familiar with these initiatives claim that this will become part of a strategy to strengthen technological independence and protect against potential threats.
Some major telecom operators, especially in Germany and Spain, have previously protested against such policies. They expressed doubts about the feasibility of a rapid abandonment of Chinese components, pointing to the high costs of replacement and the limited number of alternatives.
The official project is expected to be presented on Tuesday. Plans to phase out Chinese technologies will vary depending on the level of threat in each specific sector, as well as the availability and accessibility of other suppliers. The economic burden on market participants during the transition to new equipment will also be taken into account.
Meanwhile, Huawei continues to reassess its positions in Europe. In December, it became known that the company is analyzing the prospects of a new factory in eastern France, considering the increasing pressure from governments and the slowdown in the rollout of 5G in various European countries.
Since 2022, the United States has already banned the approval of new telecommunications devices from Huawei and ZTE, urging allies to follow suit, citing national security risks. Currently, the positions of the European Commission, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, as well as Huawei and ZTE regarding the new initiative remain unclear.
