* Mobile network 'used to eavesdrop' on Americans
* National security and economic fears 'if true'
By NEIL HARTNELL
nhartnell@tribunemedia.net
A "serious investigation" was demanded yesterday into allegations that China has exploited the Bahamas Telecommunications Company's (BTC) mobile phone network to spy on US citizens.
BTC, which is 49 percent owned by the Government, told Tribune Business in a statement it was "carefully reviewing" claims - first published in the Guardian newspaper in the UK - that state-owned Chinese communications providers had used its systems to conduct surveillance on Americans roaming on their mobile phones in The Bahamas.
"Across all the markets where Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) operates, including The Bahamas, we continuously monitor our networks and have robust security policies and protocols in place to protect the data of our customers. We take our commitment to data protection seriously, and are carefully reviewing the information in the Guardian article," BTC said.