US launches global 6G partnership to counter China's telecom influence

The Trump administration has launched a global partnership with more than 20 allied countries to accelerate the development of secure 6G wireless networks, aiming to strengthen cooperation on next-generation telecommunications and counter China's growing influence in the sector.

The initiative brings together countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, France, Australia, Canada and South Korea to coordinate national 6G strategies well before the technology is expected to begin replacing 5G networks in the 2030s, Politico reports.

Led by the U.S. National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the partnership will establish government points of contact, promote technical cooperation and help lay the groundwork for commercial 6G deployment. It also seeks to shape international standards ahead of the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference in Shanghai.

"By working now with trusted partners, we will ensure that next-generation networks reflect our shared security interests, strengthen our competitiveness, and drive innovation," NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth said in a statement.

The initiative builds on longstanding U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese telecommunications companies such as Huawei and ZTE, which Washington has repeatedly described as national security risks. Participating countries also pledged to work together to develop open, secure and resilient 6G networks while strengthening supply chains and accelerating innovation.

By Sabina Mammadli