The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced that it may bar three major Chinese telecom companies from operating data centers in the United States and could prohibit American carriers from interconnecting with them, citing national security concerns.
The FCC announced it has tentatively concluded that China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom should be restricted from connecting with U.S. networks.
According to the agency, it is also considering prohibiting Chinese telecoms that own data centers or Points of Presence at internet exchange points from interconnecting with other companies.
The FCC proposal would extend existing bans to affiliates of companies on the national security “Covered List,” which includes Huawei and ZTE.
The agency said it could also prohibit carriers from interconnecting with companies that have installed equipment from those firms. It plans to take an initial vote on the proposal at its April 30 meeting.
Also, the agency will vote on a separate measure to bar all Chinese laboratories from testing electronic devices such as smartphones, cameras, and computers for use in the U.S.
FCC expands tech crackdown on Beijing
The Chinese Embassy in Washington responded by saying China “consistently opposes the overstretching of the concept of national security and the abuse of state power to suppress Chinese enterprises.”
Also Read: Trump Presses Nation to Ditch Chinese Telecom Systems
Director of the Foreign Ministry Information Department of China, Mao Ning, on Thursday, April 9, said Beijing firmly “opposes the U.S. overstretching the concept of national security.”
“This type of action has severely impeded the normal economic and trade exchanges between Chinese and U.S. companies and does not serve anyone’s interests, including those of American companies and consumers. China will continue to firmly safeguard its legitimate and lawful rights and interests,” she said.
The FCC has aggressively moved to clamp down on Chinese telecoms in recent years. In 2019, it rejected China Mobile’s bid to provide U.S. telecommunications services.
In 2021, it revoked the authorizations of China Unicom, Pacific Networks, and ComNet. In 2022, it revoked China Telecom Americas’ authorization.
The FCC on October 15, 2025, said it was moving to revoke the ability of Hong Kong’s HKT, a subsidiary of PCCW, to operate in the U.S.
In December, the FCC said it could bar China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom from connecting to U.S. networks to prevent robocalls.
Last Friday, the FCC proposed banning the import of equipment from Chinese manufacturers on its Covered List. In 2022, the agency barred those companies from approving new models.
Crackdown on drones and routers
The FCC has also widened its crackdown to consumer technology. In December 2025, it banned the import of all new models of Chinese drones, including those made by DJI and Autel. Last month, it banned imports of new models of Chinese-made consumer routers.
Also Read: China in Standoff With US as Communist Nation Slams Iran Execution
DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, said it was disappointed by the FCC decision, noting that more than half of U.S. commercial drones are made by the company.
“More than 80 percent of the nation’s 1,800+ state and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies that operate drone programs use DJI technology,” the manufacturer said.
The FCC said its decision followed a White House-convened interagency review that found imported drones and components pose risks of unauthorized surveillance, data exfiltration, and supply chain vulnerabilities.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in June 2025 aimed at reducing U.S. reliance on Chinese drone companies.
Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism in the National Security Council, said, “Drones are a large part of America’s future security. They must be made in the USA.”
