The European Union may be about to tighten restrictions against Chinese manufacturers Huawei and ZTE. The European Commission is considering transforming a recommendation made in 2020 into an obligation, which advised the bloc’s countries to restrict the use of suppliers considered “high risk” on mobile networks.
If the proposal moves forward, member states that do not follow the new rules could face infringement proceedings and financial penalties.
According to sources heard by Bloomberg — who asked not to be identified as they are private negotiations — the initiative is led by the vice-president of the Commission, Henna Virkkunen, and seeks to guarantee a common digital security posture among EU countries. Currently, the decision on which equipment to use on networks is up to each national government, but the Commission’s plan is to establish a binding standard.
Why does the EU want to restrict Huawei and ZTE?
The main concern is the security of critical telecommunications infrastructure. For the Commission, granting space to companies with strong ties to the Chinese government could pose risks to national security and the control of critical infrastructure.
In addition to mobile networks, the Commission is also evaluating measures to limit the use of Chinese equipment in fixed networks, which are rapidly expanding in Europe due to the installation of fiber optic cables. “The security of our 5G networks is crucial to our economy,” said Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier.
The European Union is also discussing the possibility of conditioning the transfer of resources from the Global Gateway program — aimed at financing infrastructure projects — to countries that commit not to use equipment from Huawei or other Chinese suppliers in their systems.
Reaction from countries and impact on the sector
According to Bloomberg Newssome Member States have already adopted similar measures. The United Kingdom and Sweden, for example, have completely banned the use of Chinese suppliers. Others, such as Spain and Greece, still allow these companies to be present on their networks. This disparity worries European authorities, who warn of the risk of unequal protection.
The proposal, however, faces political and economic resistance. Several governments are reluctant to give up autonomy over their networks, and telecommunications operators argue that Huawei’s equipment is more affordable and advanced than that of Western competitors.
The tension between Europe and China around 5G networks is not new. The issue gained strength during Donald Trump’s administration, when the United States banned Huawei and pressured allies to do the same.
With information from Bloomberg
Source: https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/uniao-europeia-pensa-em-banir-huawei-das-redes-de-telecomunicacoes/
