China's MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) and NDRC (National Development and Reform Commission) jointly announced a new policy, which took effect on May 10, that all telecom companies are allowed to formulate their own rate plans independently, China Electronics News reported on May 13. This policy aims to encourage free competition and give market pricing mechanism a role to play in the telecom market. The liberalization of telecom service rates includes all tariffs for fixed and mobile voice services (local/long distance/roaming), SMS, and data transmission services.