US approves Google request to use segment of undersea cable connecting with Taiwan but not Hong Kong
- Google has agreed to operate a portion of the 8,000-mile Pacific Light Cable Network System between the United States and Taiwan, but not Hong Kong
- US authorities say they believe there is a ‘significant risk’ that a direct cable connection with Hong Kong would jeopardise national security
The Justice Department earlier told the FCC in a petition it supported Google’s revised request. The agency said US agencies believe “there is a significant risk that the grant of a direct cable connection between the United States and Hong Kong would seriously jeopardise the national security and law enforcement interests of the United States”.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, whose relations with the United States have soured over the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which was first detected in Wuhan, trade disputes and security concerns.
In a statement, Google thanked the FCC for approving its request and added “dedicated global network deployment and operations team is continually increasing capacity to meet the needs of our users, and that includes our subsea cable system”.
The FCC is allowing Google to operate the segment for the next six months, pending a final disposition of the license application.