EU to Get Prolonged Period for Stripping Out Network Equipment

European Union network operators may be afforded an extended timeframe to remove infrastructure from suppliers designated as high-risk. The European Commission has recommended a three-year transitional period for the decommissioning of equipment primarily sourced from Chinese vendors.

A disclosed document indicates that EU member states have requested modifications to the Commission's proposal, advocating for a phase-out duration governed by diverse criteria rather than a fixed deadline. These factors encompass risk assessment, equipment longevity, compatibility requirements, and the availability of viable alternatives.

Individual member nations are expected to deliberate these proposed amendments with legislative bodies prior to the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act, which mandates the infrastructure overhaul. The Commission proposed updates to the Act in January to address heightened vulnerabilities within the regional ICT supply chain attributed to third-party providers.

This initiative is anticipated to primarily affect Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE. Huawei previously asserted that such measures would contravene fundamental EU legal tenets, maintaining its commitment to delivering secure products. GSMA Intelligence has projected that replacement costs for European operators could range between €30 billion and €40 billion.