Chinese Telecommunications Policy

Based on firsthand information obtained from interviews with senior figures in the Chinese telecommunications industry, this book presents a unique review and analysis of the evolution of Chinese telecommunications policy. It analyses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing new entrants, issues of ownership and interconnection, the broad economic background of 3G licensing, and the significant implications of China's accession to the WTO. These are fully analyzed within the context of the unfolding Chinese regulatory system. This account, utilizing new source data, demonstrates that the existence of different economic and political systems, forces governments to adopt different and unique regulatory approaches. The book reveals the considerable problems that remain to be solved as a result of weaknesses in Chinese telecommunications industrial and regulatory systems. In-depth discussions on key political and economic factors aid understanding of the specific characteristics of Chinese telecommunications policies.