China's Telecommunication Market Gradually Opening up to Foreign Ownership.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c44847) has announced the addition of China Telecommunications Market Intelligence Report to their offering.

China's telecommunications market is one of the largest in the world and remains almost completely under the thrall of the state; therefore foreign-owned companies have little or no chance of directly operating networks or providing services in mainland China, except in co-operation with state-owned or approved entities. Nevertheless, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), China has committed itself to allowing foreign operators to gradually increase their investments in the Chinese telecommunications market. Currently, the ceiling on foreign ownership in basic value-added telecommunications service providers is set at 49%. Foreign ownership of mobile communications operators is currently limited to 35%, and then only in certain operations in selected areas of the country. Foreign ownership of wireline operators was barred until recently, but was opened to a limit of 25% (in three cities) in 2004.

Only a handful of licensed basic services operators currently exist. In the fixed line sector, China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom) owns fixed networks in 21 provinces, autonomous regions, and centrally-administered municipalities in southern China, including Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang. China Netcom Group owns fixed networks in 10 provinces, autonomous regions, and centrally-administered municipalities in northern China. In all, China Telecom controls approximately 70% of the nationwide network established by the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), while China Netcom controls the remaining 30%. Hong Kong-based divisions of China Telecom and China Netcom, holding the individual provincial fixed-line operating companies of the parent companies business, are listed on the Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges. State-owned China Tietong also offers fixed-line services at the local and long-distance levels.

There are two principal mobile communications operators: China United Communications (China Unicom) and China Mobile Communications. Both have Hong Kong-based divisions that own and manage the networks and service provision divisions of the parent companies, and which have also listed their shares on the Hong Kong and New York stock exchanges.

Each extensive Market Intelligence Report includes the following sections: Economic, Social, Political, and Telecoms Indicators; key data presented in tabular form. Regulation; a summary/overview of the market and regulatory climate, followed by synopses of the regulators powers and other competition or ministerial bodies to which it reports or with which it co-operates. A summary of the regulations in force, a list of differences in the types of available licences and a list of the licences issued. Market Indicators; the available data is presented in tabular form with commentary and graphics. Major Operators; contact data and company information, including ownership, background where relevant for pan-European carriers, licensed activities, scope of activities/services, recent major equipment contracts, summary of network status, references to major subsidiaries, joint ventures, and alliances. Major Manufacturers; contact data and company information including ownership, background where relevant, manufacturing & distribution activities, recent major equipment contracts, references to major subsidiaries, joint ventures, and alliances. Industry Associations; contact data and organisation information covering background where relevant, activities/objectives and references to members.

1. COUNTRY BACKGROUND

General Information

Economic and Social Data

Telecommunications Data

2. TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION

Summary regulation

Regulatory bodies and division of responsibilities

Legislation

Licensing

Interconnection

Numbering

Other issues

3. COMMUNICATIONS MARKET INDICATORS

Comparison of Results with CMA Averages

4. MARKET OVERVIEWS

Fixed-Line Market

Mobile Communications Market

Internet Service Market

5. MAJOR OPERATORS

6. MAJOR MANUFACTURERS

7. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

Companies Mentioned:

China Telecommunications Corporation

China Netcom Group

China Netcom

China Tietong

China United Communications (China Unicom)

China Mobile Communications

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c44847