The chief executives of 17 European telecommunications operators have jointly issued a statement, warning that the proposed revision to the EU Cybersecurity Act, which requires removing high-risk equipment, could drain the funds needed to build 5G and 6G networks and lead to service disruptions and customer dissatisfaction.

The European Commission presented its latest proposal to revise the Cybersecurity Act in January 2026. The proposal would require providers of mobile electronic communications networks to phase out information and communication technology components supplied by high-risk suppliers within 36 months of the publication of the list of high-risk suppliers. Although it does not name any specific companies, the provisions are widely viewed as having significant implications for Chinese telecommunications equipment makers such as Huawei.

Telecom equipment from Chinese companies such as Huawei plays a vital role in the normal operation of European telecom networks. The collective opposition of European telecom operators to the relevant requirements of the Cybersecurity Act is well grounded in facts. To assess the impact of mandating the removal and replacement of equipment supplied by high-risk vendors, Connect Europe, a trade association representing European telecom operators, commissioned the UK communications market analysis firm Assembly Research to conduct a detailed study. The report was released this September.

According to the report, forcibly removing Chinese telecom equipment will have multifaceted negative consequences for EU telecom networks.

First, it will impose a huge financial burden on European telecom operators. Since 2021, European telecom operators have spent a cumulative total of 141 billion euros, much of which was used to build 5G networks. With funding pressures already severe, the additional investment required by the forced removal of Chinese telecom equipment is undoubtedly putting further pressure on European operators.

Second, it will seriously affect telecom network operation and user experience. During the equipment replacement process, users may encounter increased latency, dropped calls, and weakened indoor signal coverage, which could pose significant risks, especially in critical scenarios such as hospital or emergency service communications.

Third, it will weaken market competition and supply chain diversity in the EU's telecom equipment sector, fundamentally affecting the healthy development of its telecom industry. According to statistics, Huawei and ZTE account for about 32 percent of the region's telecom equipment market, while the remaining share is mainly held by EU-based companies Ericsson and Nokia. Weakened market competition may push up equipment prices and costs over the long term, and slow R&D and innovation.

In addition, the report argues that the move may violate the Treaty on European Union. The treaty clearly stipulates that national security issues "remain the sole responsibility of each member state." The EU's move is an attempt to exceed its legal authority and restrict member states' ability to independently manage their own national security affairs.

In fact, the collective opposition of European telecom operators to the move also demonstrates that the so-called security concerns about Chinese telecom equipment are entirely slander and hype. Chinese telecom equipment occupies a considerable share of the global market and has long proven its security in actual deployment.

The EU should listen to the real users of such equipment — European telecom operators, rather than letting the so-called Cybersecurity Act hinder the development of EU telecom networks.