U.S. Plans to Prohibit Chinese Technology in Undersea Telecom Cables

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced on Wednesday that it intends to implement rules preventing companies from connecting undersea communication cables to the United States if those cables contain Chinese technology or equipment.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated, “In recent years, submarine cable infrastructure has faced threats from foreign adversaries like China. We are acting now to protect our submarine cables from foreign ownership and access, as well as from cyber and physical risks.”
The U.S. has long raised concerns about China’s involvement in managing network traffic and the risk of espionage. The country remains worried about the security of over 400 subsea cables that carry 99% of global internet traffic.
Since 2020, U.S. authorities have played a key role in halting four cable projects that sought to connect the U.S. with Hong Kong.
Last year, the FCC began reviewing regulations for undersea internet cables due to rising security concerns. Part of this review includes the possibility of banning equipment or services from companies considered national security threats, including major Chinese firms like Huawei, ZTE, China Telecom, and China Mobile.
Carr emphasized that the FCC’s actions aim to shield the nation’s submarine cables from ownership or access by foreign adversaries and to mitigate cyber and physical threats.
The FCC also plans to invite public comments on further steps to enhance the security of submarine cables against foreign adversary equipment.
Recent incidents have heightened concerns, such as the cutting of two fiber-optic cables in the Baltic Sea, which triggered investigations into possible sabotage. In 2023, Taiwan accused Chinese vessels of severing the only two cables providing internet to the Matsu Islands. Meanwhile, attacks attributed to the Houthis in the Red Sea may have caused damage to three cables serving Europe and Asia.