Broadband China Strategy Promotes Informatization Advancement

On February 16, the highly anticipated "2012 Broadband China Strategy Promotes Informatization Advancement Conference" was held in Beijing.

Relevant leaders from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology pointed out in their remarks that the Broadband China Strategy will be reinforced throughout the entire 12th Five-Year Plan period, and the government will promote broadband development through broadband strategy, special broadband funds, universal service funds, and investment and financing policies. 3G network construction, FTTX, private network construction, and triple play will become the main driving forces for the broadband industry. In 2012, the Ministry will prioritize the implementation of the Broadband China Strategy, improve internet speeds, actively advance the social informatization process, and simultaneously promote the reduction of internet access tariffs. The Ministry will also seek national policy and funding support to accelerate the development of 3G and fiber optic broadband networks and expand coverage; implement a broadband speed-up project with the goals of "increasing internet speed, benefiting people's livelihoods, and enhancing coverage"; and continue to promote the establishment of universal service funds, deeply implement the village-to-village communications project and the information-to-rural areas campaign. By the end of 2015, urban household broadband speeds are expected to reach 20 Mbps or above, rural households 4 Mbps or above, and households in provincial capitals of developed eastern regions 100 Mbps.

Yu Xiaohui, Chief Engineer of the Telecommunications Research Institute of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, when discussing thoughts on several important issues in China's current broadband development, stated that broadband is the necessary infrastructure and strategic resource for national informatization, and holds strategic significance for the national information industry and even social and economic development. It will promote profound changes in the economy and social lifestyles, and broadband is also the direction for operators' long-term business development and strategic transformation.