The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted to revoke the authorization for China Unicom's US unit to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns.

The 4-0 vote to revoke the authority that had been granted in 2002 is the latest move by the American regulator to bar Chinese telecommunications carriers from the United States because of national security concerns.

The order requires China Unicom Americas to end domestic interstate and international telecommunications services in the United States within 60 days of the order's publication.

The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

A lawyer for the company released a statement from China Unicom that said the FCC decision was "without any justifiable grounds and without affording the required due process. It added that China Unicom "will proactively protect the rights and interests of the company and its customers."

The FCC said China Unicom Americas is ultimately owned and controlled by the Chinese government and provides mobile virtual network operator services and international private leased circuit and Ethernet private line services along with IP transit, cloud and resold services in the United States.

FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said since the approval "the national security landscape has shifted and there has been mounting evidence - and with it, a growing concern - that Chinese state-owned carriers pose a real threat to the security of our telecommunications networks."

The FCC said China Unicom's "responses were incomplete, misleading, or incorrect."

Rosenworcel noted that last year the FCC published the first-ever list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. This month, she wrote to the Commerce Department, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and other agencies in order to update that list.

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said China Unicom "can continue to offer data center services to American consumers" despite the revocation.

He said the FCC and Congress should examine this issue and determine whether the commission needed broader authority to address security concerns posed by the centers.

The FCC began making efforts in March to revoke the authorization for China Unicom, Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet.

In October, the FCC revoked the US authorization for China Telecom (Americas), saying it "is subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government." The Chinese failed to win an appeal of the decision.

In 2019, the FCC rejected China Mobile Ltd's bid to provide US telecommunications services, citing national security risks.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted to revoke the authorization for China Unicom's US unit to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Thursday voted to revoke the authorization for China Unicom's US unit to operate in the United States, citing national security concerns. The 4-0 vote to revoke the authority that had been granted in 2002 is the latest move by the American regulator to bar Chinese telecommunications carriers from the United States because of national security concerns. The order requires China Unicom Americas to end domestic interstate and international telecommunications services in the United States within 60 days of the order's publication. The Chinese Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comments. A lawyer for the company released a statement from China Unicom that said the FCC decision was "without any justifiable grounds and without affording the required due process. It added that China Unicom "will proactively protect the rights and interests of the company and its customers." The FCC said China Unicom Americas is ultimately owned and controlled by the Chinese government and provides mobile virtual network operator services and international private leased circuit and Ethernet private line services along with IP transit, cloud and resold services in the United States. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said since the approval "the national security landscape has shifted and there has been mounting evidence - and with it, a growing concern - that Chinese state-owned carriers pose a real threat to the security of our telecommunications networks." The FCC said China Unicom's "responses were incomplete, misleading, or incorrect." Rosenworcel noted that last year the FCC published the first-ever list of communications equipment and services that pose an unacceptable risk to national security. This month, she wrote to the Commerce Department, the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and other agencies in order to update that list. FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks said China Unicom "can continue to offer data center services to American consumers" despite the revocation. He said the FCC and Congress should examine this issue and determine whether the commission needed broader authority to address security concerns posed by the centers. The FCC began making efforts in March to revoke the authorization for China Unicom, Pacific Networks and its wholly owned subsidiary ComNet. In October, the FCC revoked the US authorization for China Telecom (Americas), saying it "is subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government." The Chinese failed to win an appeal of the decision. In 2019, the FCC rejected China Mobile Ltd's bid to provide US telecommunications services, citing national security risks.

FCC revokes China Unicom's authorisation to operate in US

According to a report, China used <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-hackers-targeting-biden-and-trump-are-faking-mcafee-software-google-336251">mobile </a>phone networks in the Caribbean to put together a surveillance network against US mobile phone users.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-this-loophole-allowed-a-hacker-to-remotely-hack-an-iphone-347324/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Chinese authorities reportedly "targeted" US phone subscriber to "track and intercept" phone communications,&nbsp;the Threat Intelligence Report said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-dismisses-accusations-of-hacking-attempt-on-us-vaccine-developer-moderna-317257">Also Read:&nbsp;China dismisses accusations of hacking attempt on US vaccine developer Moderna</a>

In 2018, two major mobile networks - China Mobile and China Unicom targeted US mobile users in significant volumes.

A cluster of attacks was discovered targeting a&nbsp;group of US phones from&nbsp;networks including China Unicom, Cable &amp; Wireless, Barbados and Bahamas Telecom.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

"The attacks against these phones indicated coordination between the operators. This could be achieved by China acquiring network addresses from these two Caribbean operators allowing China to originate attacks, both of which are partially owned by the same parent company Cable &amp; Wireless," it said.

"As surveillance attacks from China decelerated in late&nbsp;2018, they accelerated rapidly in more&nbsp;Caribbean countries such as Antigua, Guyana and the Virgin Islands," the report added.

The report said the "activity" continued until April last year "when&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;the attack volumes across all countries decreased on 3G&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;networks and began transitioning to 4G."

The report informed that China has long expanded its investment in the Caribbean, particularly in the Dominican Republic.

"Huawei has also had a very close relationship with Cable &amp; Wireless based on investment in 4G upgrades at BTC and network investments with other countries in the region," the report said.

The report said that it is likely that many Caribbean operators have sold or leased SS7 Global Title addresses to other cyber-espionage state sponsors and criminal organizations becoming a threat sponsor either deliberately or unintentionally.

According to a report, China used mobile phone networks in the Caribbean to put together a surveillance network against US mobile phone users. Watch: Chinese authorities reportedly "targeted" US phone subscriber to "track and intercept" phone communications, the Threat Intelligence Report said.

According to a report, China used mobile phone networks in the Caribbean to put together a surveillance network against US mobile phone users. Watch: Chinese authorities reportedly "targeted" US phone subscriber to "track and intercept" phone communications, the Threat Intelligence Report said. Also Read: China dismisses accusations of hacking attempt on US vaccine developer Moderna In 2018, two major mobile networks - China Mobile and China Unicom targeted US mobile users in significant volumes. A cluster of attacks was discovered targeting a group of US phones from networks including China Unicom, Cable & Wireless, Barbados and Bahamas Telecom. "The attacks against these phones indicated coordination between the operators. This could be achieved by China acquiring network addresses from these two Caribbean operators allowing China to originate attacks, both of which are partially owned by the same parent company Cable & Wireless," it said. "As surveillance attacks from China decelerated in late 2018, they accelerated rapidly in more Caribbean countries such as Antigua, Guyana and the Virgin Islands," the report added. The report said the "activity" continued until April last year "when the attack volumes across all countries decreased on 3G networks and began transitioning to 4G." The report informed that China has long expanded its investment in the Caribbean, particularly in the Dominican Republic. "Huawei has also had a very close relationship with Cable & Wireless based on investment in 4G upgrades at BTC and network investments with other countries in the region," the report said. The report said that it is likely that many Caribbean operators have sold or leased SS7 Global Title addresses to other cyber-espionage state sponsors and criminal organizations becoming a threat sponsor either deliberately or unintentionally.

China targeted Americans via Caribbean phone networks: Report

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FCC revokes China Unicom's authorisation to operate in US

China targeted Americans via Caribbean phone networks: Report