Trump's Moves Could Cripple the Entire World Instantly — What's Happening?
The Trump administration’s plan to prohibit interconnection between United States (US) telecommunications operators and Chinese-owned telecommunications companies is predicted to have a massive impact. Global communication networks could be paralysed due to these regulations.
The FCC is known to have proposed a ban on interconnection with companies such as China Unicom, China Mobile, and China Telecom. Authorities stated that each company poses a national security risk.
China Unicom stated that the regulation would harm US companies that have significant business interests and supply chains in China. The ban is also said to impact networks worldwide.
“China-funded telecommunications operators serve as the primary gateway for communication traffic flowing between the US and China, the world’s two largest economies,” said China Unicom, as quoted from Reuters on Wednesday (10/06/2026).
“A comprehensive ban on interconnection with these entities would fragment a critical segment of the global communication network,” the company added.
USTelecom, a trade group representing US operators, opposes the proposal to revoke interconnection authority. They argue it will lead to greater impacts on services within the country, such as encouraging communication with less responsible parties, creating uncertainty in commercial and ordinary operational communications, and disrupting technical security.
“The rule could create pressure to avoid the standard international routing and exchange connections required for global communications,” USTelecom explained.
The FCC has not immediately commented on this matter.
The FCC ban relates not only to interconnection with telecommunications service providers but also prohibits connections with companies that install equipment from providers on the restricted list, including Huawei and ZTE.
Last April, the FCC also planned to prohibit Chinese telecommunications companies that have data centres in the US, known as Points of Presence, from connecting with other companies. This would effectively force those Chinese companies to cease operating those data centres.