Sweden will auction 5G spectrum in November, and the telecommunications regulator announced today that it is banning 5G networks from using equipment from Chinese telecommunications equipment companies Huawei and ZTE (ZTE).

Reuters reported that The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) said that the license conditions were formulated after evaluation by the Swedish Armed Forces and the Swedish Security Service.

Under pressure from the United States, European governments continue to review the role of Chinese companies in domestic network construction. The United States believes that Chinese companies pose a security threat because Chinese companies and people must assist the country in collecting intelligence in accordance with the law, and there are other hidden concerns.

The United Kingdom ordered in July that Huawei equipment must be completely removed from the British 5G network by 2027, becoming one of the first European countries to do so.

In response to Sweden’s decision, Huawei and ZTE did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.

The Swedish Post and Telecommunications Administration also stated that companies participating in the spectrum auction must remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from existing core functions before January 1, 2025. The core function is defined as the equipment used to build a radio access network (Radio Access Network), transmission network, core network, and network service and maintenance.