Today’s telecom news includes announcements on Huawei, ZTE, EU telecom, Aztelekom, Huawei, among others.
Spain Defies EU Push for Huawei Ban as Telecom Sovereignty Battle Intensifies
The Spanish government has opposed a European Commission proposal that would make it mandatory to exclude “high-risk vendors” such as Huawei and ZTE from EU telecom networks. The draft Cybersecurity Act would turn existing 5G security guidelines into binding rules, requiring member states to phase out Chinese telecom equipment within three years and potentially extend restrictions to fixed, satellite, and submarine cable networks. Spain argues that decisions on telecom supply chains should remain under national control, not be centralized in Brussels, citing sovereignty and security considerations. Madrid has also avoided formally classifying Huawei as a high-risk provider, unlike several EU countries that have already imposed bans or strict limits. The dispute highlights growing divisions within the EU over how to balance cybersecurity risks, strategic autonomy, and dependence on Chinese technology in critical infrastructure.
Near-Universal Internet Achieved: Azerbaijan Hits 99.7 percent Broadband Coverage in Landmark Digital Push
Aztelekom, part of AZCON Holding, together with Huawei, has announced that Azerbaijan’s “Online Azerbaijan” broadband initiative has achieved 99.7 percent national coverage, marking near-universal access to high-speed internet across the country. The project now connects up to 3 million households and businesses, including remote rural communities, with around 2 million connections added in the past two years alone. Nearly the entire population of 10.45 million people now has access to broadband services. Speeds have improved significantly, rising from 11.7 Mbps at launch to 88.84 Mbps by 2025, driven by large-scale fiber-optic deployment replacing legacy copper networks. The initiative also supports digital services expansion, including education, telemedicine, and smart city development, while paving the way for future 5G and IoT integration.
Serbia’s 5G Network: A Digital Lifeline Caught in a Global Power Struggle
Serbia’s 5G rollout has evolved into a geopolitical contest as major global powers compete to shape the country’s digital infrastructure. The article highlights how Serbia’s telecom operators are balancing partnerships between Western suppliers and Chinese technology firms amid rising US–China tensions over critical communications networks. Huawei’s early dominance in 5G equipment raised security concerns in Western capitals, pushing Serbia to diversify suppliers and rely more on Western-backed financing, including US Export-Import Bank support. At the same time, Serbia seeks to modernize its economy and expand nationwide 5G coverage to boost competitiveness. This tug-of-war reflects how 5G infrastructure is no longer just technological progress but a strategic tool influencing political alignment, economic dependency, and regional influence across the Balkans.
SHAFANA FAZAL
