Three telecom operators have been pressured by antitrust pressure

With the NDRC clearly demarcating the next phase of the anti-monopoly sector, the antitrust pressures faced by the three major telecom operators have increased dramatically. It appears that the new round of tariff reductions has become the best way to “get out”.

The reporter was informed that in order to tie in with the anti-monopoly work in the telecommunications industry, the NDRC and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will promote the further reduction of telecommunication tariffs during the remaining four months of this year. In this context, the three major operators try to avoid becoming the “target” of anti-monopoly investigations by the NDRC by reducing the tariff levels of mobile communications and broadband access services.

Recently, Xu Kunlin, Director of Price Supervision, Inspection and Anti-Monopoly Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission, publicly stated that the next target of the anti-monopoly investigation will be closely related to people's lives. Oil, telecommunications, automobiles, and banks are all within the scope of investigation.

The reporter learned from people close to the relevant Development and Reform Commission that the telecommunications industry, especially the three major telecom operators, has received “close attention” and is likely to become a “target” for antitrust investigations. “The issue of telecom tariffs has always been the focus of consumer concerns and complaints and is likely to become a breakthrough in antitrust.” According to the above sources, in addition to the anti-monopoly investigations that may be conducted against relevant companies, the NDRC will also introduce measures to further reduce telecommunications charges at the end of the year. .

The information disclosed by the above-mentioned sources was confirmed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The reporter learned from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that in order to tie in with the country’s information consumption and “broadband China” strategy, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will continue to promote telecom tariff reforms in the second half of the year, standardize service prices, and resolve hot issues such as consumer concerns. According to Gao Sumei, deputy director of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Coordinating and Monitoring Bureau, a new round of work will be carried out to push down the level of telecommunications tariffs, and will further study and improve the pricing mechanism of telecommunications charges.

This year, the NDRC suddenly stepped up its anti-monopoly efforts, and all pointed to industry giants. They have investigated and punished the price monopoly case of LCD panel companies in South Korea, the monopoly case of Maotai Wuliangye, the monopoly of foreign milk powder prices, and the monopoly case of Shanghai Huang platinum jewelry prices. In the major case, the total fine involved was as high as 1.482 billion yuan. In the previous five years, the total sum of fines issued by the National Development and Reform Commission was less than a fraction of this year's.

Most people in the industry believe that from the perspective of anti-monopoly efforts at this stage, the National Development and Reform Commission has “moved its true feelings” and is likely to launch anti-monopoly investigations against the three major telecom operators and even open a huge amount of fines. The three major operators are facing tremendous anti-monopoly pressure and need to act before the National Development and Reform Commission “moves knife”. At present, downgrading of telecom tariffs is still an urgent desire of consumers. In this context, continuing to downgrade the tariffs of mobile communications and broadband access services will become the “get out” of the three major operators in responding to anti-monopoly investigations. In addition, related persons from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology also told reporters that the “Opinions on Promoting Information Consumption and Expanding Domestic Demand” and the “Broadband China Strategy” and the “Implementation Plan” issued by the State Council in the near future have also called for further cuts in telecommunication tariffs, which are bound to prompt the three major operations. Businesses have intensified their efforts to lower tariffs and accelerate their pace.

In fact, since the Development and Reform Commission launched an anti-monopoly investigation on China Telecom and China Unicom on the issue of broadband access in 2011, the three major operators have been forced to continue to lower their tariff levels. Starting from the first quarter of this year, the three major operators lowered their international call rates for mobile communications services by an average of over 50%. In the second quarter, with the acceleration of broadband speed-increasing projects, China Unicom and China Telecom lowered their broadband access service fees. At the level of China Unicom, the cost of some broadband access services fell by more than 30%; in the third quarter, China Mobile lowered the international call tariff again, and at the same time cut down the IP telephony charges to 197 countries. In the remaining four months of this year, under the anti-monopoly background, the three major operators can only lower the tariff of some businesses again.

The reporter also learned from the three major operators that in the last four months of this year, the focus of tariff cuts was on broadband services. According to reports, China Unicom will take the lead in launching low-cost services such as RMB 40 for 20M broadband monthly service fees in Beijing and other places. This tariff level is more than 40% lower than that in the first half; China Telecom will soon promote 100M broadband services in more areas. , And cut tariffs, of which, the 100M broadband monthly usage fee provided by China Telecom Shanghai Branch has dropped by more than 50%; China Mobile’s optical fiber broadband access service prices will also be further lowered, and its 20M broadband tariff levels in Beijing, Tianjin and other places will be reduced by 30%. To 40%.

“In 2011, the National Development and Reform Commission launched an anti-monopoly investigation against China Telecom and China Unicom. Although the current case still has no results, there is no doubt about the deterrent effect of the three major operators. The current anti-monopoly efforts and the position of the National Development and Reform Commission have once again given three. Big operators sounded the alarm. Whether it is passive or active, the fee reduction is an inevitable choice for the three major operators.” The above-mentioned sources told reporters.

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