Amerilink, a US-based telecom services company, has placed Gordon R. England, a former defence secretary during the George W. Bush administration, on its board, according to reports.
The move is seen as an effort to ease security concerns from the US…
Amerilink, a US-based telecom services company, has placed Gordon R. England, a former defence secretary during the George W. Bush administration, on its board, according to reports.
The move is seen as an effort to ease security concerns from the US government regarding Chinese vendors, as Amerilink has teamed up with Huawei for a US telecom contract.
Yesterday, two other equipment deals between Huawei and US cellcos Sprint Nextel and Cricket Communications came under the spotlight. Several US lawmakers sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman outlining their concerns over Huawei’s alleged links with the Chinese military.
In an email to TelecomFinance, Huawei wrote that the company “is a fully employee-owned privately-held company. The Chinese government and PLA [China’s army] do not hold any shares in Huawei, nor do they control the company in any form. Huawei does not have any connections with the PLA and also does not receive special financial support from the Chinese government.”
The company added that “for the past two decades, Huawei has never experienced a single incident with network security. (…) In the US, we have developed a world class trusted delivery system together with local partners. Through an organization that is totally owned, managed and controlled by US citizens, it will be Americans that provide trusted delivery for our customers.”
The appointment of England takes place just a few months after former congressional leader Richard Gephardt and former World Bank President James Wolfensohn joined Amerilink as directors.
Meanwhile, Huawei hired former George W. Bush administration member John Bellinger as an adviser, in an attempt to create links with Washington.
