The EU wants to rip Chinese companies out of their telecom networks. But they can't.

The European Union plans to "rip-and-replace" Chinese telecom gear from their systems, across the continent.

Regulators estimate the cost of the program at around 4 billion euro, and hope that member countries switch to Nokia and Ericsson to build 5G telecom systems.

But the United States has been trying to ban Huawei and ZTE for decades, and Congress also budgeted $4 billion to rip and replace Huawei gear from civilian networks.

Only a small percentage of companies have done so, and even the Pentagon requests annual waivers from laws that require them to use contractors using non-Chinese gear.

China's monopolies on gallium, and massive R&D investments allow Huawei and other Chinese equipment makers to grow, despite Western bans.

Closing scene, Qingdao, Shandong

Resources and links:

EU cyber plan barring Chinese suppliers will cost US$430 billion: report
https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3352610/eu-cyber-plan-barring-chinese-suppliers-will-cost-us430-billion-report

Wall Street Journal, China Leads the Way With Private 5G Networks at Industrial Facilities
https://www.wsj.com/business/telecom/china-leads-the-way-with-private-5g-networks-at-industrial-facilities-11647163802

Ericsson.com, Critical minerals supply chain
https://www.ericsson.com/en/about-us/sustainability-and-corporate-responsibility/responsible-business/responsible-sourcing/conflict-minerals

Ericsson and Nokia see their sales in China fall off a cliff
https://www.lightreading.com/5g/ericsson-and-nokia-see-their-sales-in-china-fall-off-a-cliff

Ericsson and Nokia can't gain in Europe what they lose in China
https://www.lightreading.com/5g/ericsson-and-nokia-can-t-gain-in-europe-what-they-lose-in-china

Sweden bans Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE from 5G networks
https://www.euronews.com/2020/10/20/sweden-bans-chinese-firms-huawei-and-zte-from-5g-networks

EU’s plans to reduce dependency on high-risk vendors
https://eutechloop.com/eus-plans-to-reduce/

Brussels plans to force governments to block Huawei from 5G
https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-plans-force-governments-block-huawei-zte-5g/

Reuters, EU plan to phase out Chinese tech could cost bloc over $400 billion, Chinese study says
https://www.reuters.com/world/china/eu-plan-phase-out-chinese-tech-could-cost-bloc-over-400-billion-chinese-study-2026-05-06/

ICB, The Pentagon and FCC have a big Huawei problem: there are no substitutes, and there's no more money
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCY4AeP5MB0

Bloomberg, Pentagon Has a Huawei Dilemma Congress Doesn’t Want to Solve
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-03/pentagon-has-a-huawei-dilemma-congress-doesn-t-want-to-solve

The US is moving very, very slowly away from Huawei
https://www.lightreading.com/security/the-us-is-moving-very-very-slowly-away-from-huawei

FCC Designates Huawei and ZTE as National Security Threats
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-designates-huawei-and-zte-national-security-threats

ICB, US price tag for China's gallium export ban: $602 billion and new monopolies for Huawei
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp4DNpJjHSs

Huawei has one 5G power that is hard for the US to hurt
https://www.lightreading.com/5g/huawei-has-one-5g-power-that-is-hard-for-the-us-to-hurt

Gallium: China is increasing its influence on the miracle metal as Huawei is working on promising applications beyond 5G
https://en.institut-seltene-erden.de/gallium-china-verstaerkt-seinen-einfluss-auf-das-wundermetall-da-huawei-an-vielversprechenden-anwendungen-jenseits-von-5g-arbeitet/

Fortune, Even the Pentagon can’t completely freeze Huawei out of its operations
https://fortune.com/asia/2024/07/03/pentagon-huawei-ban-national-defense-authorization-act/

Pentagon says it's impossible to ditch Huawei telecom gear — officials beg Congress for waiver from Chinese sanctions
https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/pentagon-says-its-impossible-to-ditch-huawei-telecom-gear-officials-beg-congress-for-waiver-from-chinese-sanctions

Gallium Nitride Semiconductors in 5G Networks
https://www.azom.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=22494

China’s gallium monopoly a red flag for US & its allies. 5 steps to de-risk supply chains
https://theprint.in/opinion/chinas-gallium-monopoly-a-red-flag-for-us-its-allies-5-steps-to-de-risk-supply-chains/1710814/

Brussels reissues its Huawei warning, six years on, and prepares to make it stick
https://thenextweb.com/news/eu-huawei-zte-connectivity-infrastructure-recommendation

EU recommends member states to not use Huwaei, ZTE in connectivity infrastructure
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-recommends-member-states-not-use-huwaei-zte-connectivity-infrastructure-2026-05-04/

EU legal opinion opens door to Huawei ban in telecoms networks
https://euperspectives.eu/2026/03/eu-legal-opinion-opens-door-to-huawei-ban-in-telecoms-networks/

Видео The EU wants to rip Chinese companies out of their telecom networks. But they can't. канала Inside China Business