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China Ensures Telecom Inter-Network Connections
China is taking measures to ensure telecom inter-network connections, according to a high ranking official with the Ministry of Information Industry.
Zhang Chunjiang, vice-minister of the Information Industry, said that a new regulation on telecom management, which will take effect in the near future, will clearly define inter-network connections as the basic responsibility of telecom operators.
It also rules out the arbitrating procedure when cutting a telecom inter-network, said Zhang in an interview with Xinhua. "There will be no real competition without an unlocked inter- network connection," said Zhang.
With China's market continuing to open, keen competition has emerged in the telecom sector. But what the Chinese government wants is "orderly and cooperative competition," Zhang said.
The Ministry of Information Industry recently dealt with a case of cutting an inter-network connection because of competition in Fuyang City in east China's Anhui Province. One manager of a local company was fired as a result.
Zhang noted that most of the cases of cutting inter-network connections occurred because of the interweaving of government functions with the management of local telecom administrations.
With the telecom reform deepening, the government function will be separated from enterprises management in local telecom management administration, said Zhang. In this way, cooperation between the competing firms will be promoted.
Speaking of the Personal Handy-phone System (PHS) which was tried in some areas by the China Telecom local branches, Zhang said that such a business does not tally with the ministry's policy, and should not be expanded.
China Telecom, which is mainly engaged in fixed-phone business, has released a notice to its local branches recently, asking them to stop expanding the trial of PHS.
The PHS is a transformation from wireless accesstechnology, which is considered to be convenient in rural areas and small cities, according to an official from China Telecom.
Zhang also commented on changing the two-way charging system to a call-payment system for the mobile phone.
"We support such a change, but before setting detailed charging items, we have to take full consideration of the different interests of the state, the firms, and the consumers. We are searching for a way to ensure that these three entities all have their interests protected."
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