Telcos face multibillion-euro rip-and-replace project as Brussels moves to ban high-risk vendors
Joe Purnell2026-01-21T15:16:00
In depth: European Commissioner Henna Virkkunen considers the time is now to take network supply chain security “seriously”, laying out proposals to ban vendors deemed ‘high-risk’. Network operators stand to foot a multibillion-euro rip-and-replace bill, with some only recently signing kit deals with Chinese suppliers…
This article includes:
- Themes: Cyber and hybrid attacks; Cybersecurity; Cybersecurity Act; Defence readiness; Derisking; Digital Networks Act; High risk vendors (HRV); Network security; Rip-and-replace; Strategic dependency; Supply chain security; Threat actors.
- Events: 5G Security Toolbox; Cybersecurity Act proposals; Draghi and Letta reports; European Parliament plenary session.
- People: Emilio Gayo; Henna Virkkunen; Meinrad Spenger.
- Geographic: Brazil; Europe; Germany; Seville; Spain; United Kingdom; Union.
- Organisations: Bundesnetzagentur; Connect Europe; European Commission; European Parliament; GSMA; Huawei; MásOrange; O2 Germany; Reuters; Telefónica España; Telefónica Group; Telekom Deutschland; Vodafone Germany; Vodafone Group; Vivo; ZTE.