• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Tech

Google-Facebook ditch plans to dock giant data cable in Hong Kong

Google-Facebook ditch plans to dock giant data cable in Hong Kong
Newsexplored
31st August 2020
6
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
2

image captionThe original plan had been to land the data cable in Hong Kong

Plans for an underwater data cable between Los Angeles and Hong Kong have been dropped after the US government expressed fears that China could steal data from it.

Facebook and Google are among the US tech firms involved in the Pacific Light Cable Network project.

New plans submitted to the US communication authority mention links with the Philippines and Taiwan only.

The 12,800 km (8,000 miles) long cable has already been laid.

However it needs permission from the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in order to operate.

The project was first announced in 2016.

At the time, Google said the cable would “provide enough capacity for Hong Kong to have 80 million concurrent HD video conference calls with Los Angeles”.

The US tech firms are collaborating on the cable via the Pacific Light Data Company. The proposed Hong landing station would have been run by a business owned by China’s Dr Peng Group – one of the country’s largest internet service providers.

A US government committee raised national security concerns about Dr Peng’s involvement in June, citing its “relationship with Chinese intelligence and security services”.

In recent months tensions have been mounting between the US and China.

“We can confirm that the original application for the PLCN cable system has been withdrawn, and a revised application for the US-Taiwan and US-Philippines portions of the system has been submitted,” a spokeswoman for Google told the BBC.

data-ad-format="auto">

“We continue to work through established channels to obtain cable landing licenses for our undersea cables.”

‘Shot in the foot’

Prof Alan Woodward, a cyber-security expert at Surrey University, said the decision might prove to be counter-productive for the US.

“The whole purpose of having the cable join with Hong Kong was that Hong Kong was meant to become an Asian hub so that US tech firms could start to gain more Asian customers,” he said.


“The US government has in some ways shot their own tech firms in the foot. They’re worried about the influence of Chinese tech firms, but this is preventing US companies from getting into the region at all.”

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Stark said in a tweet that he “shared the concerns” of the US Department of Justice about China accessing data carried by the cable and would “continue to speak out”.

Prof Woodward said that the US’s caution about data monitoring was understandable – because it also happens in the West.

There is, for example, an office of the British intelligence service GCHQ near Bude in Cornwall, where several transatlantic data cables enter the UK, he said – although its activities are classified.

Related Topics

More on this story

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemscableditchfacebookgiantgoogleplans
Tech
31st August 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemscableditchfacebookgiantgoogleplans

More in Tech

  • Read More
    Could Google really leave Australia?

    Views:2 Google has threatened to pull out of the Australian market if a new law governing its...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Google threatens to withdraw search engine from Australia

    Views:2 image copyrightReuters image captionGoogle says the new law will lead to it disabling its search tool...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra: Does stylus spell end of the Note?

    Views:2 By Leo KelionTechnology desk editor image copyrightSamsung image captionThe Galaxy S21 Ultra has hardware built into...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    December Microsoft issue affecting pupils could take ‘weeks’ to fix

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images image captionMicrosoft Teams is a key resource for pupils learning at home A...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Fifa 21 and Frozen 2 top digital sales of 2020

    Views:2 image copyrightEA SPORTS/DISNEY The UK spent a record £9.05bn ($12bn) on home entertainment in 2020, with...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Elon Musk’s guide to getting ahead in business

    Views:2 By Justin RowlattChief environment correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionWhat are the secrets behind Elon Musk’s astonishing...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Home-schooling: How to help your child’s online learning

    Views:2 By Jane WakefieldTechnology reporter Published 2 hours ago Related Topics image copyrightGetty Images image captionSchool’s out....

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Cyberpunk 2077: How did the release go so wrong?

    Views:2 image copyrightGetty Images It’s safe to say things haven’t gone smoothly for the makers of Cyberpunk...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Manchester United hit by cyber attack but say fan data safe

    Views:2 Manchester United host West Brom at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday Manchester United...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Climate change: Can sending fewer emails really save the planet?

    Views:2 By David MolloyTechnology reporter Related Topics Climate change image copyrightGetty Images Are you the type of...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    PS5 v Xbox Series X: Who will win the next-gen console race?

    Views:2 By Steffan PowellNewsbeat gaming reporter Published 7 November It’s like the excitement just before Christmas, only...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
  • Read More
    Five ways the virus has changed Netflix

    Views:2 By Natalie ShermanBusiness reporter, New York image copyrightNetflix image captionComedy series The Good Place has been...

    Newsexplored 31st August 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Australian Open: Heather Watson among 47 players to quarantine in Melbourne after Covid cases on flights
    Sports16th January 2021
  • The Papers: ‘Fortress Britain’ and ‘modern miracle workers’
    UK15th January 2021
  • Fashion lookahead: Eight major 2021 looks from tie-dye to pastels
    Entertainment30th December 2020
  • Fifa 21 and Frozen 2 top digital sales of 2020
    Tech8th January 2021
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 Green Bay Packers; Buffalo Bills 24-38 Kansas City Chiefs
    USA25th January 2021
  • The homeless drug addict who became a history professor
    USA24th January 2021
  • Kamala Harris: What the vice-president did on her first day
    USA21st January 2021
  • Biden inauguration: New president to be sworn in amid Trump snub
    USA20th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Yegor Zhukov: Leading Russian opposition blogger beaten up
Bella Thorne, OnlyFans and the battle over monetising content
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok