ๆบๅท่ฝฌ็ฝๅณๅฐๅ จๅฝๆจ่ก ๆไฝ้บป็ฆๅคๆ้ป็ข็จๆท่ฝฌ็ฝ็งฏๆๆง โ Securities Daily
What happened: China will implement mobile number portability (MNP) nationally this year, after nine years of trials. The program was initially announced by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang when he delivered his government work report to the National Peopleโs Congress earlier this month. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) told Chinese media that the MNP program among Chinaโs three wireless carriers would be carried out in the latter half of the year, while the switch to virtual network operators would not be viable until next year.
Why itโs important: The MIIT has given out 15 virtual network operator licenses, including to tech companies like Alibaba and Xiaomi. Demand from Chinese mobile users has been increasing for an easy way to switch their numbers between major wireless carriers and virtual network operators, which provide plans that are almost 60% cheaper than those of the former ones. The number of virtual network operator users reached 80 million by the end of 2018, accounting for only 4.6% of total mobile users, yet it is expected to experience a growth spurt after the MNP programโs final implementation.
