China telecom association official critizes govt approach to 3G - report

March 11, 2007

A senior representative of China's telecoms industry has criticized the government's introduction of new mobile phone services as slow, opaque and ineffective, the Financial Times reported.

In an interview with the FT, Shi Jixing, vice-chairman of the China Mobile Communications Association, said officials had failed to set a unified policy on 3G, while routinely interfering in operators' strategic choices.

China is missing an opportunity for 3G networks, said Shi, who is also a member of China's National People's Congress.

Policy, he told the FT, was deadlocked between the Ministry of Information Industry, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Council's "informatization" office.

"There are unclear responsibilities and low efficiency," he was quoted as saying.

"This means the excellent strategic opportunity presented by 3G is not being grasped in time," he added.

Chinese regulators have for years refused to discuss how, or when, they may issue 3G licences, decisions affecting billions of dollars in telecoms infrastructure spending and the fortunes of the country's big four operators.