The issue is also becoming relevant for Moldova, where new legislation on the security of public 5G networks is currently being drafted. Executives from 17 major European telecom companies, including Orange, Deutsche Telekom, and Telefónica, have opposed proposed stricter EU rules affecting suppliers classified as high risk. According to Euronews, the operators warn that broad, mandatory equipment replacement could require up to €40 billion in additional spending. The open letter published by Connect Europe focuses not only on the total cost. The industry argues that accelerating the replacement of functioning infrastructure could divert capital away from investments in fiber networks, 5G development, and future 6G deployment. This makes the implementation timeline one of the key economic factors. Replacing equipment gradually as it nears the end of its normal lifecycle places a very different burden on operators' investment budgets than requiring functioning infrastructure to be removed within a short period. The signatories therefore call for a proportionate, risk-based approach that takes into account alternative security measures, technical network architecture, and existing investment cycles. This discussion is relevant to Moldova as well. The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization has already begun work on legislation governing the security of public 5G networks, linking it to the country's EU accession commitments and alignment with the EU 5G Cybersecurity Toolbox. For Moldova, the key issue is therefore not only what restrictions may be introduced, but also over what timeframe and with what implications for future investment in telecommunications infrastructure. The text of the statement is available at this link: https://connecteurope.org/news/correcting-course-support-european-tech-leadership //16.06.2026 - InfoMarket.