The US Department of Commerce has eased come of the restrictions on ZTE operating in the US. In a temporary order valid until 01 August, the government agency said ZTE would be allowed to provide support and security updates for its existing equipment and devices in use.
The original order that came into effect 15 April and bans exports from the US to ZTE remains in effect. The expectation is that an earlier announced deal with the US for ZTE to pay a fine and reform its governance will be in place by the time the interim order expires in August.
Under the temporary order, ZTE can provide maintenance and support for customers using its network equipment and phones, including delivering software patches and updates. The Chinese company will also be able to work with partners on security checks and research, in an effort to prevent any vulnerabilities on existing products. Any payments to or from ZTE related to the above actvitities are also allowed.
