The Federal Communications Commission targeted HKT over national security risks tied to China Unicom's shareholding in PCCW. Under a newly established consent decree, the carrier must initiate discontinuance within 30 days and completely end domestic and international telecom services by September 1, 2027. The enforcement follows revelations that a Chinese state-sponsored cyber group named Salt Typhoon previously breached American telecom networks to harvest call records.
Key points
Chinese-linked telecom firms continue to face total expulsion from the American market am…: Chinese-linked telecom firms continue to face total expulsion from the American market amid heightened espionage concerns.
Regulators are weighing expanded prohibitions aimed at Chinese-run data centers and compa…: Regulators are weighing expanded prohibitions aimed at Chinese-run data centers and companies operating equipment from Huawei and ZTE.
Beijing remains firmly opposed to these mounting regulatory bans and has warned Washingto…: Beijing remains firmly opposed to these mounting regulatory bans and has warned Washington of potential countermeasures.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
The Federal Communications Commission has previously barred China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from providing international telecommunications services to the United States, citing broad national security concerns.
WASHINGTON: HKT, a leading Hong Kong telecom carrier and subsidiary of PCCW Ltd, on Friday (Oct 30) agreed to halt its operations in the United States under pressure from the Federal Communications Commission.
The FCC in October 2025 said it was moving to revoke the authority of HKT to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns and its affiliation with China Unicom, which is a shareholder in PCCW. Under a consent decree reviewed by Reuters, HKT has agreed to stop international and domestic telecom services to and within the United States.
HKT must file an application with the FCC within 30 days to discontinue services and must discontinue US services by September 1, 2027. PCCW declined immediate comment.
The agreement means the FCC will not move forward with the revocation proceeding that could have offered more details on Washington's national security concerns.
The FCC has previously barred China Mobile, China…
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