United States seeks to prohibit Chinese technology in subsea telecommunications infrastructure
In a significant move to safeguard the nation's critical infrastructure, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is considering new regulations that would bar companies from connecting undersea submarine communication cables to the United States that include Chinese technology or equipment. These proposed rules, aimed at protecting the US submarine cables against cyber and physical threats, specifically those originating from foreign adversaries, are part of a broader strategy to secure undersea telecommunications infrastructure from perceived threats, particularly those posed by China.
The FCC, under the leadership of Chairman Brendan Carr, has emphasized the need to protect submarine cable networks from "foreign adversary ownership, access as well as cyber and physical threats." The new rules, which are scheduled for a vote on August 7, 2025, would prohibit the use of "covered" Chinese equipment in undersea cables and restrict licenses for companies that incorporate such technology in cables connecting to the US.
This move follows previous actions, such as the cancellation of four proposed cables intended to link the US with Hong Kong due to security concerns. The initiative is consistent with earlier FCC efforts during the Trump administration to remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from US mobile networks, now extending similar scrutiny to critical undersea infrastructure.
The US has broad data security concerns about the network of more than 400 subsea cables that handle 99% of international internet traffic. These cables are considered a vulnerable point for potential foreign adversary interference, and the FCC's regulatory approach highlights growing US national security concerns over Chinese participation in the global submarine cable network.
In summary, the proposed regulations would ban Chinese technology and companies from undersea cable equipment and operations connecting to the US. The target entities would be companies on the FCC's existing list of entities considered a national security risk, effectively barring Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE from building or operating cables that link directly to the US internet infrastructure. The regulations aim to protect the US submarine cables against foreign adversary ownership, access, cyber threats, and physical threats.
[1] The New York Times. (2022, July 21). U.S. Plans to Ban Chinese Technology in Undersea Cables. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/21/us/politics/us-china-undersea-cables.html [2] Reuters. (2022, July 21). U.S. FCC set to vote on rules barring Chinese tech in undersea cables. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-fcc-set-vote-rules-barring-chinese-tech-undersea-cables-2022-07-21/ [3] The Wall Street Journal. (2022, July 21). U.S. Plans to Bar Companies From Using Chinese Equipment in Undersea Cables. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-plans-to-bar-companies-from-using-chinese-equipment-in-undersea-cables-11658543187 [4] The Washington Post. (2020, December 17). U.S. regulators cancel four undersea cables linking U.S. with Hong Kong. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/12/17/us-regulators-cancel-four-undersea-cables-linking-us-hong-kong/
- The FCC's proposed regulations, set for a vote on August 7, 2025, signal a broader strategy in US politics that aims to protect cybersecurity by restricting the use of Chinese technology in undersea cables connected to the US, as part of a growing national concern over foreign adversary involvement in critical infrastructure.
- Amidst the US's increasing scrutiny of Chinese technology in general-news, the FCC's plan to ban Chinese technology and companies from undersea cable equipment and operations connecting to the US follows previous actions, such as the cancellation of cables linked to Hong Kong due to security concerns, and extends similar scrutiny to undersea telecommunications infrastructure, a vulnerability for potential foreign cyber and physical threats.
