In banning Huawei and ZTE, Sweden calls China a national security threat
- Prohibition has already drawn a response from Beijing, but stark description may lead to retaliation against telecoms giant Ericsson
- Stockholm’s statement contrasts with other European countries that have been trying to deal with China more diplomatically
Sweden’s ban on Tuesday of Huawei Technologies and ZTE Corp from its 5G networks – which has already drawn a strong rebuke from Beijing – did not surprise observers. It is the blunt reference to China as a threat to national security that did.
For its part, Beijing seems ready to take retaliatory measures, casting doubt on future business in China for the Sweden-based telecommunications giant Ericsson, Huawei’s nearest rival in 5G technology.
According to the Swedish government, the nation’s telecoms regulator, PTS, gave companies taking part in the spectrum auction next month a deadline of January 1, 2025, to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from their existing infrastructure.
PTS added that its decision followed advice from the country's armed forces and security services, which described China as “one of the biggest threats against Sweden”.
Stockholm’s decision, analysts say, would apply to Sweden’s entire 5G network, without the technical – or, some say, artificial – distinction between the core and noncore parts of the network favoured by some other countries that are trying to tread a careful line to prevent Chinese retaliation.