The first regulation that focuses on telecom market supervision was unveiled recently, according to the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) yesterday.

"It's part of our efforts to further optimize market supervision and create a sound environment for the industry," said a statement from the ministry made available to China Daily yesterday.

The regulation was endorsed by six ministries including the MII, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Supervision.

"The government will spare no efforts to enhance its supervision on the country's telecom market," said the statement.

"We will standardize the market in many aspects, such as enacting laws and regulations, enhancing technology and conducting effective administration."

Fighting against the sluggish development of the global market, China's telecom industry has seen sustained development over the past few years.

The latest figures from the MII showed that in the first seven months of this year, the telecom sector's revenue soared to 262.19 billion yuan (US$31.6 billion).

The country had recruited 480 million telephone subscribers by the end of July this year. Of those, the number of mobile telephone subscribers was 239 million.

However, due to a lack of effective supervision, barriers to network inter-connections among telecom operators and price wars on telecom fees have become increasingly rampant in the domestic market, which has greatly hindered the development of the industry as well as violating the benefits of customers.

The industry is in need of effective supervision, analysts say.

"Laws and regulations will be among our top concerns in the following months," said Lu Yang, deputy director of the Telecom Administration Bureau under the MII.

The statement also stated yesterday that the country will strengthen its punishment for those who destroy telecom utilities, which leads to the suspension of inter-connections.

(China Daily August 28, 2003)