Timesofindia.Indiatimes US Proposes Ban on Chinese Telecom Firms' Access to US Phone Numbers
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- •The US plans to ban direct access for major Chinese telecom firms to US phone numbers.
- •The FCC will vote on the proposal on November 19, 2026.
- •Concerns stem from previous cyber espionage incidents linked to Chinese state-sponsored groups.
The US plans to block Chinese telecom companies China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from direct access to American phone numbers due to national security concerns, particularly regarding scam-related robocalls. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is set to vote on this proposal on November 19, 2026. The ban also targets other IP-enabled service providers and companies using equipment from Huawei and ZTE, which are considered security threats. FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated that this measure aims to enhance defenses against illegal robocallers. The proposal follows incidents of cyber espionage, including the Salt Typhoon hacking campaign, where a Chinese state-sponsored group reportedly stole call records and infiltrated US telecom networks in late 2024. The FBI has indicated that threats from this group are ongoing. China has denied any wrongdoing.
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