The United States plans to ban Chinese telecommunications companies from directly accessing US phone numbers, citing national security concerns and efforts to prevent scam-related robocalls.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on Thursday it would vote on November 19 on a proposal to block China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom and other internet-based service providers from direct access to American phone numbers.
The proposed restrictions target telecommunications companies providing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology that converts voice into digital data and transmits it over broadband connections.
Direct access to US phone numbers offers VoIP providers a cheaper option and allows them to offer advanced services.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the proposed measure would strengthen the country’s efforts to combat illegal robocalls.
“With this decision, the FCC will be strengthening our first line of defense against bad actors and illegal robocallers,” Carr said in a statement.
China’s foreign ministry said on Friday it firmly opposed the proposed restrictions, accusing Washington of abusing national security concerns to suppress Chinese companies.
“China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a daily press conference.
The FCC also announced plans to prohibit internet-based service providers from using equipment manufactured by companies on its list of entities considered national security risks, including Huawei and ZTE.
The agency said it would ban Chinese laboratories from testing US electronics in December 2028.
It is also considering revoking direct phone number authorisations for Chinese companies it considers security risks.
The FCC has previously prohibited China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom from providing international telecommunications services to the United States.
Additional measures under consideration include blocking the companies from connecting to US networks and operating data centres in the country.
Washington’s concerns about potential espionage and other security threats linked to Chinese access to American telecommunications infrastructure have grown in recent years.
In late 2024, the US government said a Chinese state-sponsored cyber espionage group known as Salt Typhoon had stolen consumers’ call records and US call data while infiltrating telecommunications companies and infrastructure.
The FBI said this year that threats from Salt Typhoon were “still very much ongoing.”
In July, the FCC added California-based Digitalsystem Technology to its list of companies considered national security risks.
The agency cited the company’s links to Chinese telecommunications firms and its ownership by a Chinese national.
China has consistently denied wrongdoing.
The proposed restrictions form part of Washington’s broader efforts to limit potential security risks associated with Chinese telecommunications companies operating in the United States.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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