security

EU Plans to Phase Out High Risk Telecom Suppliers, Targeting China

With 3 years to phase out 'high risk suppliers,' the EU move is seen as emulating the U.S.'s 'Rip and Replace' program.

Associated Press

Associated Press

— 2 min read
EU Plans to Phase Out High Risk Telecom Suppliers, Targeting China
Photo of Henna Virkkunen, European Commissioner for Tech-Sovereignty, Security and Democracy at EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, in April 2025, by Omar Havana/AP

LONDON, Jan. 20, 2026 (AP) — The European Union said Tuesday it plans to phase out gear supplied by companies based in “high risk” countries from critical infrastructure such as high-speed telecom networks, in a move seen as targeting Chinese companies including Huawei and ZTE.

Brussels' proposed measures to tighten up cybersecurity come amid rising concerns that the bloc's 27 member countries are vulnerable both to the dominance of Chinese high tech manufacturing and U.S. Big Tech services.

Under the draft legislation released by the EU's executive commission, telecom equipment from so-called high risk suppliers in third countries would be phased out within three years.

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security EU China Huawei ZTE Henna Virkkunen AP

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