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China's basic telecom operators likely to lower telecom charges within this yearBEIJING, Aug 26, 2013 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- China's three basic telecom operators will likely reduce their charges for mobile telecom business and broadband access business in the rest 4 months this year, the Xinhua-run Economic Information Daily reported on Monday. It is learned that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) will push forward the reform on telecom charges, so as to support China's information consumption and "Broadband China" strategy. The NDRC deepens anti-monopoly campaign this year, targeting on industry magnates. It has launched anti-monopoly investigations against Samsung in the LCD panel manufacturing, Maotai and Wuliangye in the premium liquor industry, imported infant milk powder producers, and shanghai gold retailers. These cases involve fines of a total 1.482 billion yuan, much higher than the accumulation of the anti-monopoly fines the NDRC issued in the past 5 years. Industry insiders said that the NDRC would likely make an anti-monopoly probe into the three telecom operators, namely China Mobile (CHL.NYSE; 00941.HK), China Unicom (CHU.NYSE; 00762.HK; 600050.SH) and China Telecom (CHA.NYSE; 00728.HK), and issue a high fine to them. And as consumers are long for lower telecom charges, the three companies are expected to cut their charges so as to avoid the anti-monopoly investigation before the NDRC takes action. According to the three telecom operators, they will focus on cut charges for broadband access business in September-December. China Unicom will provide a package for 20M broadband access service at 40 yuan per month, which is more than 40 percent cheaper than the packages provided in the first half of this year. China Telecom plans to cut more than 50 percent charges on 100M broadband in Shanghai. And China Mobile will lower its charges for optical fiber broadband access services in Beijing and Tianjin by 30 percent to 40 percent. (Edited by Li Xiaoyu, [email protected]) |