Nokia Slams Huawei Comments at FCC on Ties to China as 'Pure Sophistry'

Nokia slammed Huawei for comments the Chinese company made in an Aug. 6 filing on an FCC proposal to bar USF support for products from companies seen as posing a national security threat (see 1808080021). Huawei said in the filing that other equipment providers serving the U.S. market, including Nokia, also have ties to China. “Huawei claims that Nokia has ‘deep ties’ to the Chinese government and that these ties are ‘(at least) equally strong’ to those of Huawei,” the Finnish equipment maker said in docket 18-89. “This is pure sophistry. Nokia is a well-known, publicly traded company with a 153-year heritage of market leadership, ethical business conduct, and trustworthiness that is without peer in our industry.” Of its China-based joint venture Nokia added, "Nokia itself remains in complete control of the decision making." Nokia said it has never been accused of being “influenced inappropriately by any government anywhere.” Huawei didn't respond.