HKT Agrees to Halt U.S. Telecom Operations Following FCC National Security Pressure
HKT, a major Hong Kong telecommunications carrier and subsidiary of PCCW Ltd, has agreed to a consent decree with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to cease all domestic and international telecom services within the United States. The decision follows an October 2025 move by the FCC to revoke HKT's operating authority, citing national security concerns stemming from its affiliation with China Unicom. Under the terms of the agreement, HKT must file for service discontinuation within 30 days and fully exit the U.S. market by September 1, 2027. This settlement avoids a formal revocation proceeding that would have required Washington to disclose specific national security details. The move is part of an escalating crackdown by the Trump administration on Chinese-affiliated telecommunications entities, following previous bans on China Mobile and China Telecom.
Topics: national security regulatory crackdown telecommunications US-China tensions