EU Could Ban Chinese Telecom Firms ‘Huawei’ and ‘ZTE’ Across Europe
The European Union is reportedly preparing to impose a full ban on Chinese telecom companies Huawei and ZTE from participating in mobile network infrastructure across all EU member states. According to Bloomberg, the European Commission is discussing the introduction of a binding policy that would force all 27 EU countries to remove existing Huawei and ZTE equipment and block them from being used in future network upgrades.
If approved, this would become the first-ever EU-wide legal action targeting specific telecom suppliers over national security concerns. The move follows the Commission’s 2023 decision to officially classify both companies as high-risk vendors.
Until now, the EU relied on non-binding recommendations under its “5G Toolbox,” introduced in 2020. This allowed member states to decide individually whether to restrict high-risk vendors, resulting in uneven implementation across Europe. Countries like Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands adopted strict limitations, while Germany and Hungary continued using some Huawei equipment. A binding ban would unify EU policy and eliminate these differences entirely.
The primary motivation behind this proposal is growing concern over national security and data protection. European intelligence agencies fear Huawei and ZTE equipment could enable unauthorized access or surveillance due to their alleged links to the Chinese government—claims both companies strongly deny. Despite the denials, many Western governments remain cautious.
If the Commission proceeds with the plan, the policy may include a phased removal of Huawei and ZTE equipment, giving telecom operators time to replace them with alternative providers such as Nokia and Ericsson. Additionally, access to EU digital infrastructure funds could be restricted for countries that continue using high-risk vendors.
However, challenges are expected. As of late 2024, only 11 of 27 EU countries had fully implemented the 5G security guidelines. Some nations still rely heavily on Chinese telecom equipment, making a sudden ban costly and disruptive. A strict phase-out could also delay 5G expansion and raise expenses for operators and consumers.
Despite the obstacles, the proposal marks a major shift as Europe moves toward stronger network security standards and reduced dependence on Chinese suppliers.
