The Federal Communications Commission rejected an effort by China Mobile to offer telecommunications services in the US, citing concerns over national security.
The commission’s five members voted unanimously on Thursday to deny China Mobile’s application, which would have allowed the company to connect calls between the US and other countries.
Ajit Pai, chairman of the FCC, said last month he opposed the proposal and called on the other FCC members to vote against it. The FCC has said the company, China Mobile USA, is indirectly controlled by the Chinese government. If granted a section 214 license, China Mobile would have received greater access to US telecommunications infrastructure such as phone lines and cellular networks.