EU proposes three-year phaseout of telecom gear from ‘high-risk’ suppliers, in move seen as targeting Chinese firms
The European Union unveiled a draft plan to remove telecom equipment from suppliers linked to “high-risk” countries from critical infrastructure within three years. The proposal is widely interpreted as aimed at China-linked vendors such as Huawei and ZTE and would expand rules beyond telecom into other sensitive sectors.
From voluntary guidance to mandatory restrictions
The European Union released a draft cybersecurity proposal that would require member states to phase out telecom equipment supplied by companies tied to “high-risk” countries from critical infrastructure such as high-speed communications networks. The plan would give a three-year timeline for removing and replacing covered gear, shifting the bloc from earlier, more voluntary approaches toward a binding regime.
Although the proposal avoids naming specific nations or firms, it is widely viewed as directed at Chinese suppliers, especially Huawei and ZTE, which have faced restrictions in the United States and heightened scrutiny in parts of Europe. EU officials argue the goal is to protect infrastructure by reducing exposure to suppliers that could present security risks through state influence or opaque governance.
Broader scope: critical devices beyond phone networks
The draft legislation would not be confined to telecom networks. The proposal also covers equipment and systems used in other critical areas, including border security scanners, water supply systems, and health or medical devices—expanding the concept of ICT security into a cross-sector supply-chain policy.
That breadth matters because it ties telecom policy to the wider question of technological sovereignty and resilience. In practice, the EU would be asking governments and companies to audit where critical components originate and how quickly replacements can be sourced if a supplier is deemed too risky.
Industry pushback and the politics of “high risk”
Huawei criticized the concept of excluding vendors based on country of origin rather than technical evaluation. The company argues that such rules violate basic principles of fairness and could conflict with trade commitments. Supporters of the EU move counter that national-security risk cannot be assessed only through product testing, because governance, legal obligations, and state leverage can shape how technology might be used or misused.
If adopted, the plan would accelerate Europe’s split from Chinese telecom gear and increase pressure on carriers to replace equipment, a process that can be expensive and technically complex. The proposal also signals that the EU wants a more unified position after years in which member states adopted uneven policies.