Nokia CEO Urges EU to Reconsider Chinese Telecom Vendors Amid Market Imbalance

Nokia CEO Justin Hotard has called for European authorities to reassess the presence of Chinese network equipment providers like Huawei and ZTE, citing a stark disparity in market access. Speaking at the opening of Nokia's new research facility in Finland, Hotard emphasized the geopolitical and security risks of relying on high-risk vendors while European companies face near-total exclusion from China.

"Why do we allow high-risk vendors in Europe when we have less than 3% of the market share in China?" Hotard challenged. The remarks come as Nordic vendors Nokia and Ericsson confront national security-based barriers in China, with their combined market share dwindling to negligible levels.

European telecom operators continue to depend heavily on Huawei infrastructure, creating what Hotard describes as an asymmetrical playing field. A coordinated EU response could potentially open 5G deployment opportunities for Nokia and Ericsson across the continent.