This US Policy Could Drive Up Mobile Phone Prices

The technological rivalry between the United States (US) and China continues to heat up, now extending to the smartphone arena.

The US telecommunications regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has recently approved a rule prohibiting laboratories in China and Hong Kong from testing devices to be marketed in the US.

This policy may seem technical, but its impact could be felt directly by consumers, including through potential rises in mobile phone prices.

Certification requires devices to be sent to laboratories for testing to ensure emissions and network compatibility meet applicable standards.

The issue is that approximately 75 per cent of devices entering the US have undergone this testing process in China-based laboratories. Thus, the new FCC rule will force manufacturers to seek alternative labs, possibly in the US itself, Japan, the UK, or Taiwan.

This is where the real problem arises. Testing costs in China have been relatively low, ranging from $400 to $1,300, or about Rp 6.7 million to Rp 21.9 million.

In comparison, testing costs in the US can reach $3,000 to $4,000, equivalent to Rp 50.7 million to Rp 67.6 million.

This significant cost difference could drive up production expenses, ultimately leading to higher device prices in the market.

According to a report from Android Headlines, this FCC move represents a tightening of regulations already in place earlier.

In 2025, the FCC had banned testing in laboratories affiliated with the Chinese government. Now, the scope has been expanded to all laboratories operating in China and Hong Kong.

The FCC justifies this policy as part of efforts to safeguard national security while limiting China’s access to US technology.

On the other hand, this decision makes the global production chain even more complex. Manufacturers now must ship devices from factories in China to other countries solely for certification purposes before sending them to the US market—a process that not only adds costs but also time.

Several major companies are already adapting. Apple and SpaceX have reportedly moved some of their certification processes to other countries such as Japan and the UK, as gathered by KompasTekno from GSM Arena.