Europe's 5G roll-out is being delayed by trade war, Huawei pressure and security reviews, says Tele2 CEO
- Tele2, Sweden’s second-largest telecoms company, has been delaying deals with equipment suppliers
The roll-out of 5G services across Europe has been slowed by US sanctions against Huawei Technologies and as European governments review the impact of using Chinese network equipment, the head of Swedish telecommunications group Tele2 said.
US President Donald Trump’s administration had targeted Huawei on security grounds, but a partial lifting of restrictions was a key element of a weekend agreement to reopen stalled trade negotiations with China.
Tele2 chief executive Anders Nilsson said the biggest impact of the restrictions and security concerns was being felt through a delay in 5G investment across Europe.
Tele2, Sweden’s second largest telecoms company which also operates in the Baltic countries, has been delaying on striking deals with equipment suppliers.
“We have a global supply chain, so whoever you buy equipment from you will find components from China. Even if we buy equipment from Ericsson, which is our neighbour here, you will find Chinese hardware and parts in that equipment,” he told Reuters at Tele2’s Stockholm headquarters.
“We’re right now talking to all the vendors, but decisions are postponed. This is not only Huawei, this is all vendors.”