The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on 29 October 2026 that it will vote on 19 November 2026 on a proposal to bar China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, and other IP-enabled service providers, from direct access to US phone numbers. The stated aim is to stop scam-related robocalls and protect national security.
For VoIP providers, direct number access is a much cheaper option than indirect routes and makes advanced features easier to offer. The FCC also plans to bar IP-enabled service providers that use equipment from companies on its national-security list, including Huawei and ZTE, and to ban Chinese labs from testing US electronics from December 2028. It may also revoke direct number authorisations of Chinese companies it deems a national-security risk.
The Chinese embassy did not immediately comment. Number providers that rely on US numbering resources should watch the outcome of the 19 November vote.
Source: CNA / Reuters