Changes in the Cards for Mobile UsersWu Jichuan, minister of Information Industry, reiterated Monday, December 25, in Beijing that final details of the adjustment of mobile telecommunications fees are unlikely to be hammered out by the end of next year."However," he said, "we are researching ways to speed up the process." The Ministry of Information Industry, together with the State Development Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance Monday publicized an adjustment plan for the lowering of fees for all telecommunications services except for mobile phone service. Besides concerns over the government's final plan for telecommunications price changes, Wu is also dealing with two significant telecom-related issues - controversy over a rumoured elimination of the two-way mobile phone charging system and adoption of a third-generation mobile technology licence. Industry experts said the government has been taking a cautious attitude towards mobile telecommunications policy after rumours about a change from two-way to one-way charging on mobile phones caused the tumbling of the Hong Kong stock market in November. The rumour began after some local newspapers reported in November that a proposal for a one-way charge of 0.4 yuan (US$0.05) per minute for all mobile communications had been submitted to the State Development Planning Commission, the country's top price watchdog. As for the third generation of mobile telecommunications systems was concerned, Wu stated that the Chinese Government is currently studying the new technologies. "We have not decided which standard for third-generation mobile telecoms will be adopted to upgrade nationwide mobile phone network," Wu said. Source: China Daily |
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