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China Telecom to launch MVNO in UK?

Categories: China Telecom
By: , IntoMobile
Monday, August 22nd, 2011 at 1:10 AM

China Telecom is in talks with British networks to launch an MVNO service early next year in the UK. China’s third largest mobile operator wants to target both local Chinese residents as well as an increasing number of tourists from China. The goal is to hit 50,000 users in the first year of operation and eventually surpass 200,000 users when the network will actually make some money.

According to the UK government’s tourist promotion agency, more than 100,000 Chinese people visit the country each year and that number is expected to increase by 250,000 per year by 2014. In other words, China Telecom may be onto something with such a service.

Then, if everything goes as planned, the next step is to expand to other countries, including Germany and France. The latter is especially interesting, with a target market of 500,000 people, according to Ou Yan, CEO of China Telecom Europe.

Aside from providing the mobile service, China Telecom’s British unit will also provide its Chinese users with content in their own language…

We’ll certainly be watching for any news on expansion of China’s operators to Europe and let you know as soon as something interesting comes up. Stay tuned in the meantime.

[Via: FierceWireless]

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

  • Elgogio

    good choice …

  • Paulfu2008

    good news

  • http://twitter.com/bpelhos Pelh?s Bálint

    Start an MVNO business for 250 000 tourists? This is a joke.
    I don’t like conspiracy theories, but something bigger thing is in the real business plan, I’m sure.