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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US aims to ban Chinese technology in undersea telecommunications cables
By David Shepardson WASHINGTON: The Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday it plans to adopt rules to bar companies from connecting undersea submarine communication cables to the United States that include Chinese technology or equipment. "We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China," FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement. "We are therefore taking action here to guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats." The United States has for years expressed concerns about China's role in handling network traffic and the potential for espionage. The U.S. has broad data security concerns about the network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle 99% of international internet traffic. Since 2020, U.S. regulators have been instrumental in the cancellation of four cables whose backers had wanted to link the United States with Hong Kong. The FCC last year said it was considering new rules governing undersea internet cables in the face of growing security concerns, as part of a review of regulations on the links that handle nearly all the world's online traffic. The FCC said it was considering barring the use of equipment or services in those undersea cable facilities from companies on an FCC list of companies deemed to pose threats to U.S, national security , including Huawei, ZTE China Telecom and China Mobile. Carr said the FCC is taking action to "guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats." The FCC will also seek comment on additional measures to protect submarine cable security against foreign adversary equipment. The cutting of two fiber-optic undersea telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea prompted investigations of possible sabotage. In 2023 Taiwan accused two Chinese vessels of cutting the only two cables that support internet access on the Matsu Islands and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea may have been responsible for the cutting of three cables providing internet service to Europe and Asia.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
US aims to ban Chinese technology in undersea telecommunications cables
The US has for years expressed concerns over China's role in handling network traffic and the potential for espionage. - Photo: Reuters WASHINGTON: The Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday (July 16) it plans to adopt rules to bar companies from connecting undersea submarine communication cables to the United States that include Chinese technology or equipment. "We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China," FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement. "We are therefore taking action here to guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats." The United States has for years expressed concerns about China's role in handling network traffic and the potential for espionage. The US has broad data security concerns about the network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle 99% of international internet traffic. Since 2020, U.S. regulators have been instrumental in the cancellation of four cables whose backers had wanted to link the United States with Hong Kong. The FCC last year said it was considering new rules governing undersea internet cables in the face of growing security concerns, as part of a review of regulations on the links that handle nearly all the world's online traffic. The FCC said it was considering barring the use of equipment or services in those undersea cable facilities from companies on an FCC list of companies deemed to pose threats to US, national security, including Huawei, ZTE China Telecom and China Mobile. Carr said the FCC is taking action to "guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats." The FCC will also seek comment on additional measures to protect submarine cable security against foreign adversary equipment. The cutting of two fiber-optic undersea telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea prompted investigations of possible sabotage. In 2023 Taiwan accused two Chinese vessels of cutting the only two cables that support internet access on the Matsu Islands and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea may have been responsible for the cutting of three cables providing internet service to Europe and Asia. - Reuters
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
US telecom security: FCC plans ban on undersea cables with Chinese tech; firms like Huawei, ZTE under fire
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Wednesday that it plans to introduce new rules to block companies from connecting undersea communication cables to the United States if they include Chinese technology or equipment. 'We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China,' FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement. 'We are therefore taking action here to guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats.' The United States has long raised concerns about China's involvement in global network infrastructure, particularly in terms of how network traffic is handled and the potential for espionage. More than 400 subsea cables currently carry 99% of the world's international internet traffic, and US officials have cited broad data security concerns regarding this vast network, Reuters reported. Back since 2020, US regulators have played a major role in halting four proposed cables intended to link the US with Hong Kong. Last year, the FCC signalled it was considering new rules to govern the operation of undersea internet cables amid growing national security risks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo That included a review of whether equipment or services provided by companies deemed threats to US security, such as Huawei, ZTE, China Telecom and China Mobile, should be banned from use in subsea cable systems. Carr emphasised the urgency of protecting this infrastructure, stating the FCC is moving to safeguard undersea cables from both cyber and physical risks tied to foreign adversaries. The agency also said it will seek public comment on potential additional measures to bolster the security of submarine cable systems against equipment from such entities. Recent events have highlighted these concerns. In the Baltic Sea, the cutting of two fibre-optic undersea cables led to investigations into possible sabotage. In 2023, Taiwan accused two Chinese ships of severing the only internet cables connecting the Matsu Islands. More recently, Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are suspected to have caused damage to three critical cables supplying internet service to Europe and Asia. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Business
- AsiaOne
US aims to ban Chinese technology in undersea telecommunications cables, World News
WASHINGTON — The Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday (July 16) it plans to adopt rules to bar companies from connecting undersea submarine communication cables to the United States that include Chinese technology or equipment. "We have seen submarine cable infrastructure threatened in recent years by foreign adversaries, like China," FCC Chair Brendan Carr said in a statement. "We are therefore taking action here to guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats." The United States has for years expressed concerns about China's role in handling network traffic and the potential for espionage. The US has broad data security concerns about the network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle 99 per cent of international internet traffic. Since 2020, US regulators have been instrumental in the cancellation of four cables whose backers had wanted to link the United States with Hong Kong. The FCC last year said it was considering new rules governing undersea internet cables in the face of growing security concerns, as part of a review of regulations on the links that handle nearly all the world's online traffic. The FCC said it was considering barring the use of equipment or services in those undersea cable facilities from companies on an FCC list of companies deemed to pose threats to US, national security, including Huawei, ZTE China Telecom and China Mobile. Carr said the FCC is taking action to "guard our submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, and access as well as cyber and physical threats." The FCC will also seek comment on additional measures to protect submarine cable security against foreign adversary equipment. The cutting of two fibre-optic undersea telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea prompted investigations of possible sabotage. In 2023 Taiwan accused two Chinese vessels of cutting the only two cables that support internet access on the Matsu Islands and Houthi attacks in the Red Sea may have been responsible for the cutting of three cables providing internet service to Europe and Asia. [[nid:720255]]
Engadget
4 days ago
- Business
- Engadget
The FCC plans to ban Chinese technology in undersea cables
The Federal Communication Commission plans to vote on new rules that will ban the use of Chinese technology in undersea cables, according to a press release from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. The proposed rules will apply to any company on the FCC's existing list of entities that pose "an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States." Besides "prohibiting the use of 'covered' equipment," the FCC's new rules will also limit the ability for Chinese companies to receive a license to build or operate cables that connect to the US. Undersea or submarine cables are a key piece of internet infrastructure, and a potential site of foreign espionage in the eyes of the FCC. Banning, or at least severely limiting the influence of Chinese companies is an attempt to benefit American cable providers while hurting the country's perceived enemies. During President Donald Trump's first term, the FCC made similar moves to prevent mobile carriers from using Chinese equipment in the US. Trump signed a law that required carriers to "rip and replace" old Huawei and ZTE mobile infrastructure, and the FCC provisioned funding to make it happen. The new rules around undersea cables are being proposed by a very different commission, though. Currently, there are only three commissioners on the FCC, down from the typical five. Under Carr, the commission has taken a much more aggressive approach to regulating the telecommunications industry, bordering on violating the First Amendment. Carr has threatened to investigate companies for their diversity, equity and inclusion policies and committed to not approving any mergers of companies that insist on keeping them. The FCC is expected to vote on the new rules on August 7. Besides being consistent with past FCC actions, they could be justified as a way of securing American infrastructure following the widespread "Salt Typhoon" hack the affected US carriers and other companies last year.
