The next stage of development for China Telecom, the country's largest fixed-line operator, could well hinge on bringing Apple's much-coveted iPhone to its growing 3G subscriber base and buying the mobile network that it currently leases from its parent company.
Chairman and chief executive Wang Xiaochu (pictured) yesterday addressed those two strategic initiatives after the Beijing-based carrier's annual meeting in Hong Kong.
Wang confirmed that China Telecom was 'in touch' with Apple to discuss becoming the US-based company's next carrier-partner on the mainland after China Unicom.
The goal was to bring to the mainland the latest version of Apple's iPhone 4 that is based on the 3G standard called CDMA2000 1x EV-DO, which was released in February this year to subscribers of US carrier Verizon Wireless.
China Telecom supports that same 3G standard, while larger domestic rival Unicom's network is based on the more widely-adopted system called WCDMA.
'I cannot comment on the progress,' Wang said.
A China Telecom spokesman pointed out that the operator has signed a confidentiality agreement with Apple.