60 days to pack up, here is the sentence of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against China Unicom. Chinese state-owned enterprise licenses have been revoked in the United States on January 27 in the name of national security.
The shadow of revocation looms since 2019
The decision seemed easy to the commissioners, the four voted as one man for the interruption of domestic and international services of China Unicom Americas. In the text accompanying this decision, it is explained: that today’s action protects the nation’s telecommunications infrastructure from potential security threats “.
The Council of State confirms the CNIL fine imposed in 2020 on Google
The official investigation against China Unicom was launched by the FCC in March 2021, after requests to this effect by several elected officials since 2019. The commission explains that China Unicom did not manage during the investigations to “ allay serious concerns about maintaining its authority to provide telecommunications services in the United States “.
China Unicom joins the other two Chinese state operators, China Telecom banned in October 2021 and China Mobile whose license applications were rejected in 2019. A dynamic obviously linked to the constant increase in tensions between China and the United States. United.
Jessica Rosenworcel acknowledged in a statement relayed by Reuters, that things are different than in 2002, when China Unicom received its first licenses, ” the national security landscape has changed and there is growing evidence – and with it, growing concern – that Chinese state-owned operators pose a real threat to the security of our telecommunications networks “.
China Unicom may retain its data center business. For how long ?
The company has denied representing the slightest danger to American users. China Unicom says it has ” always complied with applicable laws and regulations and provided telecommunications services and solutions as a reliable partner to its customers “. Insufficient to convince the commissioners who judged insincere the answers of China Unicom before the Commission.
Small consolation, the operator is not totally banned in the United States. Its data center activity can continue despite the revocation of its licenses. FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said the Commission and Congress need to consider giving the FCC broader authority to address security issues at these centers.