Huawei and ZTE replacement costs could reach 64 billion euros in Europe

European telecommunications operators are warning that reducing reliance on Chinese providers Huawei and ZTE could cost up to 64 billion euros. This figure significantly exceeds the European Commission's initial estimates of 17 billion to 21.5 billion euros. The costs include approximately 40 billion euros for direct equipment replacement and 24 billion euros due to increased equipment prices resulting from reduced market competition.

In Spain, the academic and scientific network RedIRIS is navigating similar challenges. While the government aims for greater technological autonomy, RedIRIS has recently secured contracts totaling 10.3 million euros to maintain existing infrastructure that relies on Huawei technology. This highlights the issue of 'vendor lock-in,' where existing systems are designed to integrate seamlessly with a specific provider, making transitions both technically complex and expensive.