HKT pulled out of US market, ending operations amid FCC scrutiny

Hong Kong telecommunications giant HKT has agreed to pull its services entirely from the United States following pressure from the Federal Communications Commission. The carrier, a subsidiary of PCCW Ltd, must now discontinue all US operations and is required to apply to the FCC within 30 days to finalize the halt.

The FCC's move stems from national security worries and HKT's affiliation with China Unicom, a major shareholder in PCCW. This agreement ensures the FCC will not move forward with its previously planned revocation proceedings.

HKT must cease all US services completely by September 1, 2027. This marks a significant exit for the telecom player as it navigates increasing pressure from US regulators.

The crackdown comes amid a series of tough measures taken by US authorities against Chinese tech firms. Previously, the FCC already barred China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from providing international services in America.

These actions follow years of growing concerns over potential spying and the theft of data. In late 2024, Washington claimed a state-sponsored group called Salt Typhoon stole US consumer call records and infiltrated telecom infrastructure.

Beyond HKT, the FCC plans to further limit Chinese firms' ability to access US phone numbers and potentially ban them from connecting to US networks or using certain US-based data centers.