With over a billion people, low-cost manufacturing, and a robust business ecosystem, China represents an opportunity for enterprises around the world. However, political differences have led to communication challenges on both sides of the Great Wall. China’s Great Firewall does more than prevent Chinese users from accessing online tools and sites, including Google, Facebook, and Twitter. It slows down cross-border traffic and interferes with business communications.
China Telecom America’s Role
In 2000, the China Telecommunications Corporation was founded, with offices located in California. Two years later, China Telecom Americas was incorporated, becoming the first Chinese telecommunications provider to enter the U.S. market. By the end of 2003, the company had completed its voice platform and had sold voice and data services to over 20 multinational companies.
The company was the only authorized reseller of domestic voice services within China, and its offering made it dramatically easier for U.S.-based companies to buy and sell telecom products. The backbone connection between the U.S. and China was upgraded to 30 gigabits per second, transforming it into one of the largest network backbone providers connecting the two countries.
For the better part of two decades, communication between U.S. and Chinese businesses flourished over the China Telecom Americas network.
Cooling Foreign Relations Interfere with China Telecom Americas Operations
Over time, businesses relied on the China Telecom Americas backbone to connect businesses between the two countries. Over the last several years, tensions have increased as accusations of spying and increased cyber threats have interfered with relations between the two governments.
Last month, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission adopted an order “ending China Telecom (Americas) Corporation’s ability to provide domestic interstate and international telecommunications services within the United States.”
This order is devastating for Chinese and US enterprises that relied on the China Telecoms America network to facilitate communication. It also opens the possibility that China will take similar countermeasures, making it difficult for multinational corporations to do business in China.
For companies caught in the middle of an international fracas characterized by mistrust between two governments, this crisis may provide an important lesson learned, and could encourage businesses to use private networks rather than government-controlled ones.
Avoiding Government-Controlled Networks with Teridion
Teridion’s China solution provides an ideal workaround for those businesses unable to wait for governments to work out their differences. Teridion’s network is compliant with Chinese regulations but operates outside the network. It is reliable, offers MPLS-level SLAs, and is easy to deploy, as it seamlessly connects to any broadband internet connection.
The Network-as-a-Service facilitates high-speed data transfers, voice and video services without latency, and service-provide-level connectivity without costly carrier circuits or MPLS network deployments.
The network works with any edge device and connects Chinese companies to a global network that lives on the public cloud with over 500 points of presence (PoP). The system is capable of being deployed within minutes and offers carrier-like SLAs.
For businesses requiring connectivity that is free from world politics, Teridion’s China connectivity solution represents a powerful, cost-effective solution, reflecting our vision that the internet should be a boundaryless communication channel, regardless of politics or physical constraints.
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