HKT to halt US operations amid Trump's telecom crackdown

A Reuters report says HKT, one of Hong Kong's largest telecom companies, has agreed to cease its international and domestic services to and within the United States as part of the Trump administration's telecom crackdown on China.

The report says the PCCW subsidiary must file an application with the US Federal Communications Commission within 30 days to halt services and must discontinue US services by September 1, 2027.

The commission initiated the proceedings to bar HKT from interconnecting with American networks in October 2025, citing national security concerns and the company's affiliation with China Unicom, which is a shareholder in PCCW.

The FCC on Thursday announced its plan to soon ban several Chinese telecom firms from getting direct access to US telephone numbers that will affect Chinese IP network and those using equipment from companies deemed to pose security risks, such as Huawei and ZTE.

On the same day, the FCC voted to ban all Chinese labs from testing US electronics from December 2028.