TELECOMS

ASIA: Under WTO rules China must open telecoms markets by end of 2006

China remains anomalous in developing telecoms markets in that it's fixed line sector remains larger than the mobile market. It remains to be seen whether the issuance of 3G licences in 2006 will alter this scenario.

Under WTO rules China must open its telecoms markets to overseas operators by the end of 2006. China Unicom has recently announced that it is seeking a foreign investor to back its 3G development.

The European Commission's recent decision to impose controls on roaming tariffs has been seized upon by certain Asian commentators who are pressing their national regulators to ask local operators to justify their charges.

In India LG Electronics is planning to raise production of GSM phones by 300% to satisfy both domestic demand and export markets in, amongst other countries, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Kenya.