‘A weapon against our interests’: EU moves to ban Huawei, ZTE from 5G networks
London: The European Union has designated Chinese telecoms companies Huawei and ZTE as high-risk vendors, effectively paving
the way for their equipment to be removed from 5G networks across the bloc’s 27 member states.
It is the first time the EU has named the two Chinese firms as high-risk. The move places additional pressure on member states to rid
their networks of the Chinese-made kit, while also giving governments cover when facing pressure from Beijing to favour the companies for contracts.
Equipment produced by Huawei and ZTE currently makes up around 40 per cent of telecoms networks across the EU on average.
On the basis of available information, the European Commission considers that “Huawei and ZTE represent ... materially higher risks than other 5G suppliers”.
In a statement, Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton, said member states should impose restrictions on high-risk suppliers without delay. Operators should be
banned from installing any new equipment and remove existing equipment within the shortest possible timeframe.