June 15, 2026, 11:04 am | Read time: 4 minutes
There has been frequent criticism in the past of routers and other network technology that were not adequately protected against cyberattacks. Against this backdrop, five manufacturers are now calling for stricter regulations for network technology in Europe.
The focus is on more transparency regarding the origin of devices and firmware, increased use of European technologies in sensitive areas, and additional security requirements for routers and other network components. The companies–Fritz!, Devolo, Lancom Systems, TDT AG, and Teltonika Networks–justify this with the goal of strengthening Europe’s digital sovereignty and reducing potential security risks from opaque supply chains.
Model Mobile Communications
All manufacturers are based in Europe. Apart from Teltonika Networks in Lithuania, they are all from Germany. All five have joined the newly founded industry association Safenet. In their view, the European Union should focus more on transparency, security, and trustworthy supply chains in network technology.
The manufacturers point to the existing security requirements for the mobile communications sector and call for comparable regulations for routers and other network technology. The demands also tie into the long-standing debate about potential security risks with network technology from China. In this context, several EU countries have already imposed restrictions on Huawei and ZTE in the rollout of 5G.
According to the association, the existing regulations for routers and other network technology are currently insufficient. While mobile networks in Europe are already subject to special security requirements, there are still relatively few regulations for many other components of the digital infrastructure.
Transparency in Devices and Firmware
According to the companies involved, three key measures are in focus. The first demand is directed at manufacturers and internet providers.
According to the companies’ vision, manufacturers and internet providers should clearly indicate where devices are produced and developed in the future. This applies not only to the hardware itself but also to the firmware. The origin and development of the technology used should thus become traceable for users and those responsible.
In the manufacturers’ view, it is not enough to merely state the production location of a device. The development and maintenance of the firmware also play an important role, as security vulnerabilities or potential manipulations often arise at the software level. Transparency across the entire supply chain is therefore intended to increase the trustworthiness of the technology used.
Use of European Network Technology
Another focus is on the use of European network technology. The companies advocate for prioritizing such solutions in certain areas. This particularly concerns government agencies and other sensitive institutions.
Specifically, they mention authorities, operators of critical infrastructure, and publicly funded institutions. According to the companies’ vision, these areas should rely on European network technology.
The demand is related to the long-standing debate about digital sovereignty in Europe. The background is security concerns about technologies from third countries and the fear of potential dependencies in key IT and communication systems. Particularly in critical infrastructures such as energy supply, transportation, or public administration, European solutions should therefore be more strongly considered.
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Call for Additional Security Regulations
The third demand is directed at the European Union. Here, the companies advocate for further security requirements in the field of network technology.
As a reference, they point to the existing 5G toolkit. In their view, comparable regulations should also be created for routers and other network technologies. Thus, security requirements are among the central points of their list of demands.
The manufacturers argue that routers and other network components play a similarly important role in IT security as mobile communications technology. Therefore, risk assessments by manufacturers and uniform security requirements should also be extended to these product groups.
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Manufacturers Obligated to More Security
Even today, the European Union is tightening the requirements for connected devices. With the Cyber Resilience Act, manufacturers will be required to implement more comprehensive security measures, update obligations, and report vulnerabilities. Additionally, since 2025, additional cybersecurity requirements apply to numerous radio devices, including routers. The current demands would go beyond these existing regulations.
Whether and to what extent the European Union will adopt the proposals is currently open. With their initiative, the manufacturers aim to expand the security debate, which has so far mainly focused on the mobile communications sector, to include routers, switches, and other key components of the digital infrastructure.