Chinese mobile pulling out of Canada amid security concerns

One of China’s biggest state-owned, mobile phone networks appears to be pulling out of Canada, after a federal government court order that focused on security concerns.

“In compliance with the request of the Canadian Federal Government, CMLink of China Mobile Canada, will cease operations on January 5, 2022,” said a statement on the company website.

“The balance in your CMLink account can be refunded from December 28, 2021. The refund amount is subject to the account balance on the day of application submission,” said CM Link, which is in charge of China Mobile’s operation in the Canadian market.

The China telco (CMI), which appears to have only one store front in B.C., at Lansdowne Centre in Richmond, said in its announcement that it will cease operations “at the request of the Canadian federal government.”

Also, the statement said that, starting Dec. 28, CMI won’t accept any new membership applications and all SIM cards that haven’t been activated before Jan. 5, 2022, will be void.

For users who are not activated on or after January 5, 2022, the card purchase fee will be automatically refunded to the same method of payment, and no refund registration is required.

In addition, the National Post reported earlier in December how China Mobile had lost a court bid for a temporary hold on the federal government’s order that its Canadian affiliate is divested or wound up over national security concerns.

According to Richmond News, Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton stated the harms to the general public curiosity posed by China Mobile International Canada’s continued operation “are significantly greater” than the harms the corporate has proven it could endure without a keep of the order.

In January, the federal authorities informed CMI Canada {that a} assessment of its operations, prompted by safety issues, indicated that the enterprise could possibly be leveraged by the Chinese state for overseas interference, the report said.

The government then issued an order in August directing parent company China Mobile to either wind up or divest the Canadian business within 90 days.

At a hearing last month, CMI Canada said, if the order to wind up stood, it would be irreparably harmed, losing customers, regulatory licenses, contracts, revenues and the right to do business in Canada.