Mobile phone subscribers in China may need to register their connections using real names from 2007 under new rules that may lead to reduction in new subscriptions & rise in operational costs.
A representative for China's Information Industry Ministry, Wang Lijian, said that rules that would see mobile phone subscribers registering mobile phones using real names would probably be applied from 2007. The rule will be valid for both existing & new customers.
The rules are receiving mixed responses from people. Some are seeing these as helpful to counter criminal cases related to cell phones while others are concerned that the new system could bring inconvenience and also disturb privacy of mobile users.
If the rule is applied, China will join nations like Malaysia & Singapore that require real name prepaid registrations due to security reasons. Thus, the govt. is looking forward to curb mobile fraud & trace transfers of unauthorized & unacceptable content.
"As China plans to roll out 3G permits, it wants to avoid any future hassles in the execution of its plans," said an analyst at RNCOS.
At August end, China Mobile, largest cell phone operator in the world by means of its market value, had around 218 Million subscribers using prepaid connections while China Unicom had around 53 Million. During the phase, total cell phone subscribers had reached 437.5 Million and a market research report "China Telecom Sector Analysis (2006-2007)" by RNCOS claims the subscriber base to reach 446.59 Million by the end of 2006.
Real name registrations have already begun in Shanghai and mobile operators are required to sign an agreement for 'privacy protection' with customers before both reach a final agreement.
Related Market Research Reports:
Global Mobile TV Forecast to 2010
3G Market Outlook (2007-2010)
European Mobile Market Scenario to 2012
