China Mobile, the country’s largest mobile operator, has invested 9 billion yuan (US$ 1.1 billion) over the past two years to expand its mobile coverage to 25,862 villages.
China Mobile contributed to a 3.7% increase in the connection rate of villages and is taking a significant role in the Village Phone Program initiated by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII). The Village Phone Program is designed to provide telecommunication facilities and services in rural areas in the country. The program's objective for 2004-2005 was to expand telecommunication services to 37,741 villages.
China Mobile plans to input 5 billion yuan (US$ 620 million) in 2006 to the Village Telecommunication Program in an attempt to improve the telephony penetration among villages by over 0.7%.
Source: China Industry Daily News - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News
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