Regulator Preps Telecom Resale Pilot

(Beijing) – China's telecom industry regulator is mulling plans to launch a pilot program for the telecom resale business, which would allow wireless service providers to resell mobile services next year, a source from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) told Caixin.

There has been market speculation that the MIIT might issue mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licenses as early as June, however the source said the MIIT has yet to determine a timetable. MVNO licenses allow companies which do not own wireless networks or facilities to resell wholesale services such as wireless call time to other companies purchased from telecom carriers.