The European Commission has reissued its recommendation that EU member states exclude Huawei and ZTE equipment from connectivity infrastructure, broadening the original 2020 5G-focused guidance to cover fixed networks, fibre, and submarine cables. The voluntary approach has largely failed — only 13 of 27 member states had acted after six years. A draft cybersecurity law presented in January 2026 would make exclusion legally binding, with a 36-month phase-out period and infringement procedures for non-compliance. Germany, where Huawei equipment is present in roughly 60% of 5G sites, is the key holdout. China has threatened retaliation against European companies operating in its market. The move is part of a broader EU tech-sovereignty push that also includes sovereign cloud investment and government Linux migration.
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What the recommendation actually says, and what it does notWhy the voluntary phase did not workWhat the connectivity-infrastructure framing addsThe wider tech-sovereignty arcWhat happens next?Sort: