The Trump administration on Monday will launch an international partnership with more than 20 partners to accelerate the development of secure 6G wireless networks, officials first shared with POLITICO, as Washington seeks to curb China’s influence in the next generation of communications.
The initiative includes countries such as the UK, Germany and Japan, and is intended to help coordinate government 6G strategies years before the technology is expected to begin replacing 5G networks in the 2030s.
Establishes contact points in all participating governments, shares technical resources and lays the groundwork for commercial distribution. It also advances President Donald Trump’s push for U.S. leadership in 6G after last year’s Good House Bill set the stage for developing next-generation wireless networks, andDecember presidential memorandumwhich directed the construction of a diplomatic alliance.
The effort is intended to serve as a counterweight to China’s telecom ambitions and the global reach of companies such as Huawei and ZTE. Officials see close cooperation with partners as important in creating international technical standards ahead of next year’s World Radiocommunication Conference in Shanghai, where countries will discuss key decisions affecting the future of wireless networks.
“Today’s action recognizes that 6G will be very different from 5G, and that continuing the leadership of the United States and partners requires a different playbook,” Arielle Roth, head of the National Communications and Information Administration, which is leading the initiative, said in a statement. “By working now with trusted partners, we will ensure that next-generation networks reflect our shared interests in security, strengthen our competitiveness, and drive innovation.”
The partnership could help the United States deal with global turmoil, including the ongoing war with Iran and dissatisfaction with Trump’s tough tariff policies.
Roth first teased the effort on stage in Marchduring the POLITICO eventwarning against embracing “a legacy model built on control, surveillance and control.” On Monday, he said the call showed “an unprecedented level of international coordination on the future of communications technology.”
The race to build 5G networks was fierceUSA vs. Chinaon national security issues. The United States has declared Chinese telecommunications companies a distinct risk and spent years, beginning in Trump’s first term, urging partner countries to avoid doing business with Chinese companies Huawei and ZTE over concerns about the unreliability of their equipment. The United States has spent billions of dollarspay phone companiesripping Huawei and ZTE devices off the networks in rural areas of the country.
The initial list of governments confirming 6G cooperation includes Albania, Canada, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Paraguay, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
“We are committed to developing 6G approaches that deliver an open, interoperable, secure, resilient, AI-supported, innovative and resourceful global communications system, with like-minded nations leading and benefiting from the most advanced wireless connectivity available,” the call to action reads. “We must take decisive action to strengthen our 6G supply chains, accelerate innovation, and ensure that the future of wireless communications is shaped by like-minded nations.”
The call emphasizes the government’s desire to create “solid foundations for the security and resilience of our networks” and to work collaboratively to create open and secure systems with industry, academia and other parties. It said that country-specific steps in developing 6G will vary but outlined some common commitments in developing this next generation of wireless architecture. It includes criteria for the next month, three months, six months and one year, including a face-to-face gathering next year to discuss best practices and “assess the latest strategic environment with relevant industry stakeholders” – and plan what priorities to pursue in the year ahead.
Roth and Deputy Secretary of Commerce Paul Dabbar are scheduled to discuss the effort during alaunch eventWednesday hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
