\tUS government officials increased pressure on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assess whether two state-owned Chinese operators should be allowed to continue to operate in the country.<\/p>\n
Reuters reported two senators asked FCC chairman Ajit Pai and security agencies to review interconnection licences awarded to China Telecom and China Unicom in the early 2000s, allowing them to provide services to corporations.<\/p>\n
The calls come a few months [1] after the regulator rejected an application from China’s other major operator, China Mobile, for a similar licence. At the time, commissioner Brendan Carr questioned China Unicom and China Telecom’s licences, citing security threats.<\/p>\n
Due to heightened security concerns around Beijing, the US has taken widespread action against Chinese vendor Huawei, imposing an export ban, [2] although this is on hold [3] until November. It also added 40 of its affiliates to an economic blacklist.<\/p>\n
Warning
\nReuters reported the senators’ warned the US Department of Defence and Department of Homeland Security that China Telecom and China Unicom \u201ccontinue to have access to our telephone lines, fibre optic cables, cellular networks and satellites\u201d and could give China the ability to target communications of \u201cAmericans or their businesses, and the US government\u201d.<\/p>\n
They added the companies could reroute communications travelling on their networks to China.<\/p>\n
China Telecom representative Ge Yu reportedly stated the operator was working to maintain \u201cgood standing with all regulatory agencies\u201d, highlighting the fact it had provided “telecom services to US corporations for almost 20 years.”<\/p>\n
“We make the protection of our customers\u2019 data a priority and have built a solid reputation as one of the best telecoms companies in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
China Unicom added it operates its international telecommunications business \u201cstrictly in compliance with the international local laws and regulations”.<\/p>\n[1] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/featured-content\/top-three\/china-mobile-denial-sparks-new-worry-at-fcc\/
\n[2] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/featured-content\/home-banner\/huawei-lands-on-us-trade-blacklist\/
\n[3] https:\/\/www.mobileworldlive.com\/featured-content\/home-banner\/us-extends-huawei-trade-reprieve\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
US government officials increased pressure on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to assess whether two …<\/p>\n
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