China Mobile has ended its fixed-line trials but is committed to the wireline business, a senior executive has confirmed.
China Mobile's general manager for data, Gao Nianshu, told a recent conference China Mobile last year had given considerable thought to the fixed-line voice business. He said the biggest issue for mobile operators who win a fixed-line license was which market segments to go after.
China Mobile last year was on the verge of building a wireline access network to provide end-to-end fixed-mobile voice service and offered unbundled broadband wholesale, sohu.com reported. However, following complaints from Netcom and Telecom, the MII issued document 408, calling a halt to Mobile's fixed-line expansion.
But Gao said the company was not planning to abandon the fixed-line voice business. He pointed to an un-named Japanese carrier as a model to follow. The operator attacked the market with low prices, bundling broadband and mobile, Gao said.
However, he said Mobile respected the 408 decision. "If fixed licenses are not issued in 2008, China Mobile will strictly comply with the MII regulations."