COMPETITION starts today in China's telecommunications sector, as the United Telecommunications Co (Unicom) opens a network where the watchword is service.
Although the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) retains a monopoly on international long-distance calls and enjoys a huge advantage over Unicom, subscribers will for the first time have a choice of networks.
'I'm nervous, but I'm confident' said Luo Zhiyong, general manager of Unicom's Guangzhou branch, on the eve of the network's opening.
Unicom officials are betting that by providing fast, efficient service, they can lure customers into their infant network.
Unicom, which was formed a year ago by the ministries of railways, power and electricity, has begun by opening Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular phone networks in four cities.
Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have an initial capacity of more than 20,000 subscribers each, while Tianjin has 15,000 subscribers.
Unicom offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou have alreadysold mobile phones to large clients on an experimental basis, with Shang-hai boasting 5,000 subscribers.
