Network spending fails to pick up
China's telecoms operators are unlikely to increase their combined spending on network expansion this year, said a report in People's Post & Telecommunications News. The total was put at Yn207.7bn, about the same as in 2002, when spending slowed as a result of an industry restructuring.
Of the country's four telephone service providers, only China Netcom plans to increase spending in 2003 – by 52 per cent to Yn41bn as it expands its network in south China. Fixed-line operator China Telecom, along with mobile operators China Mobile and China Unicom, are expected to spend slightly less on equipment. China Railcom, a small fixed-line operator, is expected to cut spending by 42 per cent to Yn5.7bn.