Swedish regulators on Tuesday banned the use of telecom equipment from China’s Huawei and ZTE in its 5G network ahead of the spectrum auction scheduled for next month.
The ban is to “ensure that the use of frequencies does not endanger the security of Sweden,” said the Swedish Telecom Authority (PTS).
The authority added that Huawei and ZTE equipment already installed will have to be removed by 1 January 2025.
The announcement comes after Sweden’s armed forces and security services made an assessment of telecommunications network tenders.
Sweden’s decision follows the lead of the UK, who decided to ban Huawei from involvement in its 5G network in July.
Several other European countries are gradually closing the door on Huawei or are considering doing so after pressure from the United States, who consider the company as being part of China’s surveillance state.
