China - Key Statistics, Telecom Market & Regulatory Overview

Synopsis

The Chinese telecom market is the largest in the world. China is making real strides in becoming an advanced telecommunications market. With the mobile sector still expanding at over 15% going into 2009, and the long-awaited licensing of 3G services completed after finalising of the industry restructure, the market is poised for yet another boost amongst what is hoped to be a more level playing field. The importance of the regulatory regime must not be underestimated in a market like China, where political and commercial considerations are closely intertwined. Efforts in reform have addressed the separation of administrative and enterprise functions, the dissolution of monopolies and the promotion of competition. The government at times takes a light-handed role, such as turning its eyes away from Xiaolingtong (Little Smart) PAS encroachment in urban areas, or a stern approach, making challenging demands on foreign participation in the local market and dictating that technology such as TD-SCDMA is developed and deployed. The government has also been severe on its regulation of the Internet. This report presents a range of key statistical indicators and gives an overall picture of the Chinese telecom market, including market highlights and the regulatory environment.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
  
• 2. Key statistics
  
• 3. Telecommunications market
  
  • 3.1 Overview of China’s telecom market
    
  • 3.2 China’s telecom market restructure in 2008
    
  • 3.3 Fixed-lines and mobiles
    
  • 3.4 Timetable for China’s Telephone Users
    
  • 3.5 Internet and broadband
    
  • 3.6 Television broadcasting
    
• 4. Regulatory environment
  
  • 4.1 Overview
    
  • 4.2 Tenth Five Year Plan (2000-2005)
    
  • 4.3 Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2006-2010)
    
  • 4.4 Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
    
    • 4.4.1 Ministry of Information Industry (MII)
      
    • 4.4.2 MII Expansion
      
    • 4.4.3 Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
      
• 5. 2008 Global Economic Crisis: How will China react?
  
  • 5.1 China’s RMB4 trillion for infrastructure spending
    
• 6. Previous restructuring of the telecommunications operators
  
  • 6.1 World Trade Organization (WTO) accession
    
• 7. Yearly summaries of major regulatory developments
  
  • 7.1 Year 2009
    
    • 7.1.1 Xiaolingtong shutdown
      
  • 7.2 Year 2008
    
    • 7.2.1 Online video-sharing restrictions
      
    • 7.2.2 Juvenile crime
      
    • 7.2.3 Network restrictions
      
    • 7.2.4 Music Piracy
      
    • 7.2.5 Paid advertising
      
    • 7.2.6 Number Portability
      
    • 7.2.7 Foreign Investment
      
  • 7.3 Year 2007
    
  • 7.4 Year 2006
    
• 8. Related reports
  

• Table 1 – Country statistics – 2008
• Table 2 – Telecom revenue and investment statistics – 2008
• Table 3 – Telephone network statistics – 2008
• Table 4 – Internet user statistics – 2008
• Table 5 – Broadband statistics – 2008
• Table 6 – Mobile statistics – 2008
• Table 7 – National telecommunications authorities
• Table 8 – Fixed-line and mobile subscriptions and penetration rate – 1998 - 2008
• Table 9 – China’s telephone subscribers fixed versus mobile overview – 1998 - 2007
• Table 10 – CNNIC Internet statistical survey – December 2008
• Table 11 – Internet users and annual change – 1996 - 2008
• Table 12 – Internet subscribers and annual change – 1996 - 2008
• Table 13 – Growth of websites in China and annual change – 2002 - 2008
• Table 14 – Website classification and Domain Names in China – 2008
• Table 15 – Registered .cn domain names by code – 2008

• Exhibit 1 – Telecommunications industry statistics from the MII – 2006 - 2008
• Exhibit 2 – Restructuring of China’s Telecommunications Industry
• Exhibit 3 – China’s agreed schedule for telecom liberalisation – 2002 - 2007