EU regulation 2025/2052 will apply from the 14th of December 2028. From that date, most in-scope AC-DC external power supplies (EPS) placed on the EU market will need to meet new USB-C interoperability and eco-design requirements.
The question is no longer whether product roadmaps will be affected. It is whether decisions being made today are already defining products that will cross the 2028 deadline.
What is changing in 2028?
Regulation 2025/2052 is intended to improve interoperability, efficiency and product lifecycle performance across the power supply ecosystem.
For many CPE products, this means moving away from traditional fixed-output DC power architectures and DC plugs towards standardised USB-C or USB Power Delivery (PD) interfaces, detachable USB-C cables and clearer product markings.
(For more information about the wider implications of Regulation 2025/2052, see our earlier article here.)
How does this impact OEMs and operators?
This is not simply a connector change.
The new requirements fundamentally change how CPE OEMs and operators design, develop and deliver hardware and power solutions.
Key decisions will need to be made for both existing and future products around power budgeting, voltage selection, cable strategy, labelling, packaging, documentation, testing and qualification.
These decisions also extend beyond the power supply itself. Moving to USB Power Delivery creates new considerations for the CPE hardware, the USB-C cable and the interoperability between all three.
Why do decisions made today matter?
December 2028 may feel like there is still plenty of time.
However, a product being defined this year could be designed and validated in 2027, enter production in 2028 and remain in deployment for many years.
When considering product development cycles, component lead-times, requalification, manufacturing and global supply chains, the available transition window becomes significantly shorter.
A decision made today could already be defining a product that will still be entering the EU market after the 2028 application date.
Do I need to wait until 2028?
Regulation 2025/2052 includes an early-adopter provision for compliant power supplies placed on the market before the 2028 application date.
There is no requirement to wait until the deadline before transitioning new designs. OEMs can begin developing and introducing compliant designs now. Operators can also begin aligning future product specifications, procurement strategies and technology roadmaps with the new requirements.
2026 is the planning window
Given the breadth and scope of Regulation 2025/2052, 2026 should be the year OEMs and operators define their transition strategy for both new and legacy products. Whilst 2028 is the compliance milestone, 2026 is the design and planning window.
The common charger transition is reshaping how products are designed, supplied, packaged and supported across the European market.
Since 28 December 2024, the common charging requirements have applied to covered portable electronic devices placed on the EU market from that date. From 28 April 2026, they apply to laptops. USB-C becomes the common charging port, fast charging is harmonised, consumers receive clearer charging information, and many devices can be purchased without a bundled charger.
For OEMs and operators, 2028 sounds distant, but the transition work needs to happen now.
Key dates OEMs and operators need to know
28 December 2024: Common charger rules began applying to a defined range of portable electronic devices covered by the legislation.
28 April 2026: The requirements apply to laptops.
By 28 December 2026: The European Commission is due to report on whether further measures should be considered around cables and charger unbundling.
14 December 2028: Ecodesign requirements under Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 apply to external power supplies, battery chargers for portable batteries of general use, wireless chargers, wireless charging pads and USB Type-C cables.
What is changing?
Adopted in October 2025, Regulation (EU) 2025/2052 goes beyond the device-side USB-C requirement. It addresses the power supply and accessory ecosystem, focusing on energy efficiency, power output performance, interoperability, surge resistibility and information provision.
External power supplies must, by default, be fitted with at least one USB Type-C or USB Power Delivery port and carry the EU Common Charger logo, unless an exemption applies.
USB Type-C cables with USB-C plugs at both ends must meet official USB specifications, including limits around electrical resistance and voltage drop. They must also be marked with a 60 W or 240 W power rating.
Why this matters for OEMs
For OEMs, this is not just a connector change. It affects product architecture, power budgets, adapter selection, cable strategy, mechanical design, labelling, documentation, testing and supply chain qualification.
Products using fixed-output barrel-jack power supplies may need review. Where USB-C Power Delivery is required or chosen, OEMs must consider voltage negotiation, power profiles, start-up behaviour, cable specification, thermal performance and long-term reliability.
If the selected power supply, cable or labelling approach is unsuitable for the 2028 requirements, redesign costs could be far greater than addressing it during the 2026 planning cycle.
Why this matters for operators
Operators may not be the legal manufacturer, but they often specify, purchase, deploy and support equipment. For broadband and telecoms operators, external power supplies are part of customer premises equipment such as modems and routers.
The implications include installation kits, replacement adapters, warehouse stock, repair loops, warranty handling, field spares and support scripts. If multiple equipment generations remain in service beyond 2028, the adapter strategy needs to be clear beforehand.
Future tenders may increasingly ask suppliers to show a USB-C, USB Power Delivery or common charger transition path.
Why the rest of 2026 is critical
Product cycles are long. A device designed in late 2026 may be validated in 2027, shipped in 2028 and supported for years.
A plan should include a full SKU review, assessment of existing power supplies and cables, engagement with power supply partners, testing plans, packaging and labelling updates, procurement changes, and a stock and spares strategy.
The opportunity
Greater interoperability can reduce adapter complexity, simplify customer support, improve spare-part availability and support sustainability targets by reducing unnecessary chargers and cables. The European Commission expects the measures to reduce lifecycle energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and pollutant emissions while improving consumer convenience.
The clock is ticking. 2028 is the application milestone, but 2026 is the year to make the transition manageable.
To find out more about the new EU Regulations and how NetBit is staying ahead of the curve, email us at sales@netbit.com
