China Unicom warns US crackdown could disrupt global communications

The Chinese telecom giant is pushing back on an FCC proposal that would ban US carriers from interconnecting with Chinese operators flagged as national security risks.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 9, 2026

China Unicom’s US subsidiary filed comments with the FCC on June 9 opposing a proposed rule that would prevent American carriers from interconnecting with Chinese telecom operators on the national security “Covered List.” The company argues the ban would effectively break a critical segment of global communications infrastructure.

What the FCC is proposing

The proposal, which traces back to April 2026, targets data centers and Points of Presence operated by Chinese-funded telecom entities within the US. The rule would prohibit American carriers from maintaining interconnection agreements with operators on the FCC’s Covered List, a registry of companies deemed national security threats.

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China Unicom’s argument is straightforward. Chinese-funded operators serve as essential gateways for telecommunications traffic flowing between the US and China. Cut those gateways, and you don’t eliminate the traffic. You just force it through less reliable, less transparent intermediaries.

This isn’t the first time the FCC has moved against Chinese telecom operators on US soil. In 2019, the commission denied China Mobile’s application to enter the US market entirely, citing national security concerns. By 2022, the FCC had revoked operating authority for both China Unicom Americas and China Telecom Americas, giving them transition periods to wind down operations.

The new proposal goes further. Rather than simply kicking Chinese operators out of the US market, it would bar American companies from doing business with them at the interconnection level. The measure could also extend to carriers that utilize equipment manufactured by Huawei and ZTE.

US carriers aren’t thrilled either

USTelecom, the trade group representing major American carriers, has also pushed back against the proposed regulations. USTelecom warned that the ban could actually reduce visibility into risky traffic flows for US providers. If you force that traffic onto alternative routes through third-party intermediaries in other countries, you lose the ability to watch it closely.

As of the filing date, the matter remains open for public comment, with no final decision rendered.

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