Huawei Is Still in Most of Europe's 4G/5G Backbone: What It Means for Your Privacy

Privacy Guide • Updated February 2026 • 12 min read

TL;DR

Huawei presence: Over half of EU countries have NOT banned Huawei from their networks
The backdoor issue: Huawei allegedly retained covert access to "lawful intercept" systems designed for Western law enforcement
Salt Typhoon: Chinese hackers exploited these same backdoors in 2024, accessing wiretaps of high-profile US targets
Economic leverage: China has threatened German and Swedish economies to protect Huawei's market position
Solution: Foreign-routed eSIMs bypass local network infrastructure entirely, keeping your data outside compromised systems

The Uncomfortable Reality of European Networks

When you use mobile data in Europe, you probably assume your connection is secure. After all, the EU has strict privacy laws like GDPR. But there's a critical gap between legal privacy protections and the physical infrastructure your data travels through.

As of late 2024, only six relatively small EU member states were using no Chinese radio access network (RAN) products. Germany – Europe's largest economy – was using Huawei equipment across almost 60% of its 5G sites. One-third of all 5G sites across 32 EU countries were running on Chinese network equipment.

Current Huawei Status in EU (2024-2025):

Explicit bans: Only Sweden, Romania, Estonia, and (partially) Germany
No restrictions: Most EU member states have frameworks but don't enforce them
Germany: Must remove Huawei from 5G core networks by 2026, RAN management by 2029
Projected timeline: Chinese vendors expected to hold 29-32% market share through 2028

The Backdoor Problem: It's Not What You Think

The common narrative is that China inserted secret backdoors into Huawei equipment. The reality is more disturbing: the backdoors were already there by design.

Lawful Intercept: The Intended Vulnerability

Telecommunications equipment worldwide is required to include "lawful intercept" capabilities – essentially, built-in wiretapping access for law enforcement. In the US, this is mandated by the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA). Similar requirements exist in Europe.

The US government's allegation isn't that Huawei created new backdoors – it's that Huawei retained covert access to the existing lawful intercept systems that Western countries required them to build.

How the Backdoor Works

Telecom equipment makers are legally required to build law enforcement access into their products. But the manufacturers themselves are not supposed to have access to these systems – only the telecom operators and authorized law enforcement.

US officials claim Huawei "secretly preserves the right to access the networks without the approval of the operators" through this interface – a capability they've allegedly observed since 2009.

The Salt Typhoon Wake-Up Call

In late 2024, Chinese hackers known as "Salt Typhoon" demonstrated exactly why lawful intercept backdoors are dangerous – by exploiting them.

Aspect	Salt Typhoon Attack Details
Companies Breached	AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Lumen, and at least 9 US telecoms
Global Scope	80+ countries, 600+ organizations targeted
What Was Accessed	Wiretap portals, call metadata, and actual audio recordings
High-Profile Targets	Donald Trump, JD Vance, Kamala Harris campaign staff
Critical Intel Stolen	Near-complete list of phone numbers under US surveillance
Assessment	"Worst telecom hack in our nation's history" – Sen. Mark Warner

The Electronic Frontier Foundation put it bluntly: "The path for law enforcement access set up by these companies was apparently compromised and used by China-backed hackers. That path was likely created to facilitate smooth compliance with wrong-headed laws like CALEA."

China's Economic Leverage Over Europe

Why haven't more European countries banned Huawei? Because China has made clear there will be economic consequences.

Germany: Automobiles as Hostages

In 2019, China's ambassador to Germany, Wu Ken, issued a direct warning: "If Germany were to make a decision that led to Huawei's exclusion from the German market, there will be consequences. The Chinese government will not stand idly by."

He specifically pointed to the auto industry: "Last year, 28 million cars were sold in China, 7 million of those were German." He then asked rhetorically, "Can we just declare German cars unsafe, because we make our own cars?"

The message was clear: ban Huawei, and BMW, Mercedes, and Volkswagen suffer.

Sweden: The Price of Standing Firm

Sweden took one of the strongest positions against Huawei, calling China "one of the biggest threats against Sweden" and ordering all Huawei equipment removed by January 2025.

China's response was swift. The ambassador to Stockholm warned of "negative consequences for Swedish companies working in China." The Ministry of Commerce urged Sweden to "correct its mistake" and threatened "all necessary measures."

The result? Ericsson – Sweden's telecom giant and Huawei's main competitor – saw its China Mobile market share collapse from 11% to just 2% in the next bidding round. Ericsson's CEO reportedly lobbied Sweden's trade minister, saying the Huawei ban would be "bad for Ericsson."

The Privacy Problem for European Travelers and Residents

Even if you trust your government's lawful intercept framework, the infrastructure itself may not be trustworthy. Here's the risk model:

Infrastructure Risks

Huawei equipment in 60% of German 5G sites
Lawful intercept backdoors exist by law
Those backdoors may be accessible to unauthorized parties
Chinese state actors have demonstrated ability to exploit them

Even Without Huawei

CALEA-style requirements exist in most countries
Any backdoor is a vulnerability
Salt Typhoon targeted US telecoms – not just Huawei equipment
The concept of "secure backdoor" has been proven false

How Foreign-Routed eSIMs Protect You

When you use a foreign eSIM that routes traffic through a different country, your data never touches the local network's internet exit point. It bypasses local infrastructure entirely.

The Technical Architecture

Step	Local SIM (e.g., German carrier)	PikaSim (UK-Routed)
1. Connect to tower	Deutsche Telekom (local)	Deutsche Telekom (roaming)
2. Data routing	Through German ISP infrastructure	Tunneled directly to UK
3. Huawei equipment	Data passes through it	Only radio signal (encrypted)
4. Lawful intercept point	German system (potentially compromised)	UK system only
5. Internet exit	Germany	United Kingdom
6. Surveillance exposure	German + any compromised infrastructure	UK only

Why This Matters

Even if local towers use Huawei equipment, a roaming eSIM only uses the tower for the radio signal – which is encrypted end-to-end to your home carrier's gateway. Your actual data never enters the local ISP's routing infrastructure where lawful intercept (and potential unauthorized access) occurs.

Not All eSIMs Are Equal

Important: Some eSIM providers route traffic through China or Hong Kong without telling you. Research has found that popular providers secretly send user data through Chinese networks like China Mobile.

PikaSim's "Max Privacy" packages route through the UK and EU – jurisdictions with strong privacy laws and no evidence of compromised infrastructure. We clearly label IP routing on every package so you know exactly where your data exits.

Who Should Be Concerned?

High-Risk Users

Journalists covering sensitive topics
Business executives with trade secrets
Government employees and contractors
Activists and NGO workers
Attorneys with privileged communications
Anyone targeted by state-level actors

Privacy-Conscious Users

Travelers using European networks
Expats living in EU countries
Business travelers with confidential data
Anyone who values communication privacy
Users who distrust local surveillance frameworks

Practical Steps to Protect Yourself

1. Use a Foreign-Routed eSIM

When traveling or living in countries with Huawei infrastructure (most of Europe), use an eSIM that routes through a trusted jurisdiction like the UK. This bypasses local infrastructure entirely.

2. Check the IP Routing

Not all eSIMs are private. Some route through Hong Kong or China. Always verify where your traffic exits. PikaSim labels this clearly on every package with "Max Privacy" badges for non-HK/CN routing.

3. Layer with End-to-End Encryption

Use encrypted messaging apps (Signal, WhatsApp) and HTTPS for everything. Even if someone accesses network infrastructure, encrypted traffic is still protected at the application layer.

4. Consider a VPN as Additional Layer

For maximum protection, add a reputable VPN on top of your eSIM connection. This creates encryption even from your eSIM carrier.

FAQ

Is Huawei equipment actually dangerous?

The US government claims to have evidence of Huawei backdoor access going back to 2009. More importantly, the Salt Typhoon attack proved that any lawful intercept system is vulnerable – Chinese hackers exploited US telecom backdoors, not Huawei-specific ones. The infrastructure design itself is the problem.

I'm just a regular person. Why would anyone spy on me?

Mass surveillance doesn't target individuals – it collects everything and sorts later. The Salt Typhoon attack grabbed metadata from over a million users in the Washington DC area alone. You don't need to be a target to be collected.

Doesn't GDPR protect me in Europe?

GDPR regulates how companies handle your data. It doesn't prevent state actors from exploiting network infrastructure vulnerabilities. Legal frameworks and physical security are different things.

If I use a UK-routed eSIM, isn't the UK surveilling me instead?

You're reducing exposure, not eliminating it. The UK has strong rule of law and no evidence of compromised infrastructure. You're also avoiding local surveillance in whatever country you're visiting. It's about choosing the most trustworthy jurisdiction.

Why not just use a VPN?

VPNs encrypt traffic after it enters the local network. A roaming eSIM routes traffic before it touches local infrastructure. The eSIM approach is more fundamental – though using both together provides the strongest protection.

Which European countries are safest?

Sweden has the strongest Huawei ban. But remember: even without Huawei, lawful intercept requirements create vulnerabilities in every network. The safest approach is routing traffic through a trusted foreign jurisdiction regardless of which country you're in.

Protect Your Privacy in Europe

Privacy-First eSIM for European Travel

Bypass local network infrastructure with UK-routed data. No Huawei equipment in your data path. No exposure to compromised lawful intercept systems.

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