“Without access to those solutions, these
carriers will lose their ability to provide
reliable and high-speed telecommunications
and internet services,” it said. “Rural schools,
hospitals, and libraries will feel the effects.
And, due to reduced competition in the
market for telecommunications equipment,
particularly in cutting-edge 5G networks, all
Americans will pay higher prices for these
critical services.”
Huawei reiterated its desire to work with
the FCC to lay to rest concerns over national
security and ensure “best practices” are used in
U.S. telecommunications systems.
Huawei is the world’s biggest supplier of
telecom gear as well as a major cellphone
manufacturer. The U.S. government has said
that Huawei poses an espionage threat, but has
presented no evidence of its equipment being
used for spying by the Chinese government.
The U.S. has been pressuring allies to ban
Huawei from their networks and has restricted
exports of U.S. technology to Huawei, though
numerous loopholes have been exploited.
ZTE did not respond to requests for comment.
ZTE has also denied that China uses its
products for spying.
A congressional report in 2012 labeled both
Chinese companies as security risks.
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a
Democrat, said the FCC’s move was a good one,
but took too long and did not go far enough.
She said there needs to be a “coordinated
national plan” for securing next-generation
cellular networks, known as 5G.