Chongqing Unicom Cancels 3G Number Release Restrictions
Chongqing Evening News, 6/19/09
Chongqing Unicom has canceled the rules limiting trial commercial usage of its 3G networks to "friendly users." An employee at the operator's 3G brand store said that no application would be necessary, and that all users purchasing a China Unicom (NYSE: CHU; 0762.HK; 600050.SH) WCDMA handset would be able to directly sign up for a 3G subscription plan. According to the company's headquarters, commercial testing of 3G will last from May 17 to September 30, with Chongqing Unicom issuing a total of 10,000 numbers. Reports from other provinces and municipalities said that starting this month, Beijing, Guangdong, and other regions would begin to repeal the "friendly user" restrictions.
An informed source at China Unicom said that the operator's strategy was to issue 3G numbers on a small scale, with a limited quantity to be issued in each province until September. Going into June, the speed of number issuance suddenly accelerated. The original plan was to start issuing numbers on a large scale after the networks had been fully optimized, the source said, but the strategy has changed to step up number issuance.
Editor's Note: In an interview with Marbridge, Chongqing Unicom 10010 hotline staff denied that anyone could purchase a 186-prefix number and subscribe to 3G handset services from Chongqing Unicom's outlet or the 3G brand store. The hotline employee said that currently Chongqing Unicom has only released a limited number of 186-prefix numbers, which are only available to existing China Unicom users. Marbridge also contacted Beijing Unicom and Guangdong Unicom 10010 hotline staff, who said it is still the case that only "friendly users" can use 3G handset services; however, those "friendly users" are not restricted to existing China Unicom users.
Reports yesterday have also said that China Unicom has sped up second-phase construction of its WCDMA network. Among the 229 second-phase cities in which China Unicom had initially planned a September release of WCDMA numbers, half will begin issuing numbers at the end of June.
Keywords: 0762.HK 3G 600050.SH China Unicom Chongqing Unicom CHU WCDMA wireless mobile phone SIM card
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