The FCC ordered China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile to stop providing fixed or mobile broadband internet operations in the United States due to national security concerns. The order also applies to Chinese telecoms Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet, according to Reuters. The Chinese telecoms did not respond to requests for comment.
The commission previously had barred the companies from providing telecommunications services due to national security concerns. Those decisions were upheld by U.S. courts, Inside Towers reported.
The Chinese telecoms must discontinue their services within 60 days from the net neutrality order approved on April 25. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the Commission had evidence that the telecom operators were providing broadband services in the U.S., noted Reuters.
FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks pointed out during the Commission meeting that China Telecom advertised on its website that it operates 26 points of presence in the U.S. and offers colocation, broadband, IP transit, and data center services. “They are interconnecting with other networks and have access to important Points of Presence and data centers,” Starks said, urging “a closer look at the threats that adversarial providers pose to our data and data centers,” said the FCC.
Previously the Commission had also denied requests by U.S. companies to sell equipment to Huawei and ZTE, stating it posed “an unacceptable risk” to national security, Inside Towers reported.
By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief
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