SAFENet, the Innovate Europe Foundation (IE.F), and Berlin-based consultancy iconomy have joined forces to publish a new study highlighting the lack of a sovereignty framework for routers in the European Union. According to the study, 93% of internet traffic in Europe flows through routers, while Chinese manufacturers already control 37% of the market. This poses a potential security threat as compromised routers can give access to an entire household or business’s digital activity.
The study also reveals that Europe is already taking action against high-risk vendors in other critical hardware sectors, but remains inactive when it comes to router security. This is despite the fact that Europe has the tools, precedent, and political support to act.
Jan Oetjen, Chair of SAFENet and CEO of FRITZ!, emphasizes the importance of independent and secure network technology for Europe’s digital sovereignty. He believes that only by working together can Europe ensure control over its networks and shape its own digital future.
Transparency and awareness, public procurement reform, supply chain governance, and strengthening European industrial capacity are identified as four levers that can help Europe achieve router sovereignty. These measures can be implemented using existing regulatory tools and would not require the creation of new institutions.
A YouGov survey of over 16,000 people across the EU shows that a majority of Europeans trust European routers, while expressing distrust towards routers from Chinese and Russian manufacturers. However, many consumers are unaware of where their router comes from, as provider-supplied routers often come from non-European manufacturers.
SAFENet urges Europe to take action now, stating that the evidence is clear and that router security and sovereignty must not be overlooked in the larger debates around digital sovereignty.
To learn more about SAFENet and the study, visit safe-net.tech. For more information about the IE.F, visit ie.foundation. For press inquiries, please contact media@safe-net.tech or c.parsons@ie.foundation. The study can be found at https://www.ie.foundation/content/4-publications/ief_router-risk_260615_final.pdf.
