According to an announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Information Industry and the National Development and Reform Commission on September 2, starting on October 1 the Chinese government will give mobile phone operators more freedom to set their own prices for mobile phone roaming. This new freedom will only allow for lowering of prices, as long as they do not go below a stipulated minimum. Currently, mobile phone operators are already able to set prices below the government-mandated levels, but they have to apply for regulatory approval to do so. Under the new regulations approval will not longer be necessary.

 

At present, the Chinese government already allows companies to freely set prices for services such as Internet access and voice-mail, while it offers guidance for leased line and data transmission services.