EU Telecom Operators Warn Huawei Ban Could Cost Up to €40 Billion

The GSMA trade body estimates that removing high‑risk Chinese vendors such as Huawei and ZTE from Europe’s 5G networks will cost operators a total of €30‑40 billion, far above the European Commission’s earlier projection of €10‑13 billion. The estimate breaks down into roughly €5 billion for fixed‑network replacement and €9‑12 billion for transport networks, with an additional €8.5 billion expected between 2027 and 2030 as competition among equipment suppliers falls.

EU governments have been pressured by the United States to exclude Chinese equipment from next‑generation mobile infrastructure for security reasons, and many member states have already banned Huawei from national 5G cores. Telecom firms across the bloc are now urging regulators to provide financial compensation for the mandated equipment swap. Some economists dispute the GSMA figures, arguing they do not separate new costs from expenses that would have occurred regardless.

The debate highlights the tension between security policy and the financial burden on European telecom operators as the EU moves to formalise a ban on high‑risk suppliers under its upcoming Cybersecurity Act.