中国首个私营电信开始运营

Chinese mobile phone users saw the first service plan issued by a private company take effect during the weekend in Zhejiang Province. The plan provides numerous concessions to customers but gaining market share against large state-owned-rivals is proving to be an arduous task for China's private telecoms.

Discounted calling fees, no roaming between provinces and roll-over of monthly internet flow. Those are among the benefits you can get by signing up with a private telecom service provider. China’s first such mobile plan took effect Sunday in Zhejiang Province, with nine discounted plans ranging from 30 to 400 yuan per month. Some of the plans are much cheaper than what’s provided by the major state owned telecoms.

"This plan has very big discounts, and no matter how much I repay into my phone number, the company will add an equal amount of fees as a goodwill gift. And it hits your account right away." MS Zeng, Customer of Zhejiang Privince said.

This company is among 19 private firms licensed to provide telecommunication service plans. China late last year opened up its telecom sector to private companies to boost competition in the industry. More private plans are expected to be available soon.

"This ends an era where customers are on receiving end, and gives consumers power to be proactive, and it will bring changes to call charges, and internet fees." Zou Xueyong, Secretary General of China Virtual Operators Industry Associaion said.

A study shows that each private telecom service provider will need 1 million active users to break even. However, more than 60% of China’s consumers have no idea that the telecoms exist and that means tough times ahead for the new companies.