Madrid Times

España Viva: Your Window to Madrid and Beyond
Tuesday, Jul 22, 2025

European Commission Moves to Exclude Huawei from Subsea Cable Projects

The proposal reflects heightened security measures and a firm stance against perceived risks associated with Chinese technology in critical infrastructure.
On Thursday, the European Commission formally proposed prohibiting Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant, from participating in the development and maintenance of undersea cables that connect the European Union with third countries.

This initiative reignites discussions that date back to a proposal made by former Tech Commissioner Thierry Breton in February 2024, marking a significant shift in the EU's approach to securing vital digital infrastructure.

Henna Virkkunen, Breton's successor and the current commissioner for the internal market, has emphasized the importance of safeguarding subsea cables in light of recent sabotage incidents in the Baltic Sea that have raised security concerns, particularly in Finland.

The Commission’s International Digital Strategy now suggests that the existing ban on Huawei’s equipment in EU 4G and 5G networks could be extended to include submarine cables.

While Virkkunen previously advocated for reducing reliance on 'high-risk vendors,' a term often understood to refer to Huawei and ZTE, the new proposal specifically targets Huawei, as ZTE is not engaged in subsea infrastructure.

To implement this ban, the Commission has proposed an annual conference to be led by the EU, aimed at coordinating and reviewing submarine cable routes, evaluating project partnerships, and analyzing financing models to maintain strategic independence and promote vendor diversification.

This development is situated against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between the EU and Huawei, following a corruption scandal involving several Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), which has intensified political pressure for a stringent policy regarding Huawei’s involvement in EU infrastructure projects.

Although a final policy shift regarding Huawei's exclusion from undersea networks would signify a substantial political gesture, the European Commission already possesses the authority to effectively restrict the company, as many of these infrastructure projects are subject to public funding governed by the EU's Connecting Europe Facility.

In the global submarine cable market, the primary players include France’s Alcatel Submarine Networks, the United States-based SubCom, Japan’s NEC Submarine Networks, and China’s Huawei Marine Network Technologies.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
0:00
0:00
Open
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
0:00
0:00
Close
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
×