China's Top Telecom Operators Make Provincial Data Roaming Free of Charge From July 1
Liao Shumin
DATE:  Jun 23 2018
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
China's Top Telecom Operators Make Provincial Data Roaming Free of Charge From July 1 China's Top Telecom Operators Make Provincial Data Roaming Free of Charge From July 1

(Yicai Global) June 22 -- China's three major telecom operators will scrap the data roaming charges in China's mainland from July 1.

All the existing and new users of China Mobile, China Telecom and China United Network Communications services will no longer have to pay extra charges for using their mobile phones while traveling in other provinces, the three firms said in a joint statement.

China's government has required telecom operators to step up efforts to upgrade network speed and reduce tariffs. The specific pledges include building high-speed broadband coverage in both urban and rural areas, expanding free Wi-Fi network to more public places, significantly lower the home and business broadband tariffs, and cut mobile internet tariffs by at least 30 percent within this year.

The number of the three telecom carriers' mobile phone users reached 1.39 billion last September, meaning nearly everyone in the country owns a mobile phone. China Mobile controls about two-thirds of the market with its wireless data traffic revenue reaching CNY187.7 billion (USD28.3 billion) in the first half of last year.

The new roaming-free policy excludes Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Editor: Emmi Laine

Follow Yicai Global on
Keywords:   China's Top Telecom Operators Make Provincial Data Roaming Free of Charge From July 1