Baicells faces US investigation amid national security fears
FBI and Commerce Department probe company’s equipment.
While Baicells has denied any wrongdoing and pledged full cooperation with US authorities, the company faces mounting scrutiny amid fears that Chinese-made telecom equipment could be used for surveillance or cyber attacks. In particular, base stations and routers provided by Baicells have been flagged for vulnerabilities that could allow hackers to compromise sensitive networks. The FBI has already contacted local US entities, such as the city of Las Vegas, to raise security concerns regarding Baicells’ technology.
Despite Baicells’ claims that it no longer has ties to its Chinese parent company, its history and ownership structure continue to raise doubts. Many of its top executives and a significant portion of its staff have links to Huawei, further fueling suspicions about the company’s operations. In recent years, Baicells has attempted to distance itself from its Chinese roots, stating that its infrastructure is increasingly built in Taiwan, though much of its equipment still originates from China. The ongoing investigations highlight the broader concerns in Washington about the risks posed by Chinese-linked technology in critical infrastructure.