The year 2001 has brought more frustration than excitement to
China's broad band service suppliers, since most users-to-be have
watched their efforts to expand businesses indifferently.
With the concept of "broad band" sweeping through China, many
domestic companies, including
China Telecom, China
Netcom and the Great Wall Company, rushed into this new market
at the beginning of the year.
However, their enthusiasm for building broad band networks could
not change the fact that China is still backward in this field.
Currently, only one percent of Chinese households are connected to
a broad band network. Even in prosperous Shanghai the figure is
only two percent.
Statistics show that at the end of October, one-third of Beijing
residential communities had contracted to lay broad band cables,
but only one percent had begun operations.
Another problem is that few residents want to pay the fee for the
newly-installed cables since the majority have been used to broad
band networks being supplied free of charge.
Experts consider the suppliers' extensive operations the main
reason for the setback in the broad band industry in China.
Xie Wen, chairman of China Internet Laboratory, said, "Many
developers talk a lot about the concept of broad band, but later
cannot provide customers with practical facilities of the required
standard."
"Some companies have received a huge number of letters of complaint
because they have failed to offer the necessary services after
opening the broad band network," said Xie.
The Great Wall Company has been through the typical ups and downs
experienced by China's broad band industry.
By
June, it had signed up 15 million clients in China's 60 cities, 60
of which were already using broad band networks.
However, the promising situation did not last long as the expansion
of its business slowed down and continued to do so. Instead of the
planned return of 2.5 billion yuan (US$301 million), it brought in
only 1.3 billion yuan (US$157 million).
China Telecom originally planned to supply 1.5 million users but
dropped out halfway, causing the retreat of many other broad band
service providers.
Xie Wen said the development of broad band networks is affected by
the information technology, the market, management, policies and
the economic environment. However, most companies did not do their
research and take these factors into account.
However the professionals think it is understandable that China's
broad band industry has encountered difficulties since it's still
at an elementary stage.
Statistics show that even in the United States where the
information industry is the most developed worldwide, only 10
percent of the population use broad band networks and in European
countries only five percent do.
Experts point out that there still is great hope for China's broad
band markets.
Since June, trial operations of broad band networks have been
carried out in 13 major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and
Chengdu.
In
September, the establishment of the CCID-Times Company with an
input of 140 million yuan (US$16.9 million) brought hope to the
domestic broad band industry by promoting simple constructions into
profitable operations.
CCID-Times president Li Zhu said the operation of broad band
networks must have a "chain" to link suppliers, receptors,
facilitators and estate agents so operation costs and profit can be
shared.
Professionals consider the emergence of a group of companies
offering "chains", like CCID-Times, will help China's broad band
industry change from the current chaotic situation into an orderly
one.
Analysts also point out optimistically that new broad band
operators are still growing.
Following the cooperation between China Telecom and Xinhua News
Agency as well as Sina.com and SunTV, a company under the State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television will soon become
another top broad band service supplier after purchasing all
China's cable TV networks with a credit loan of 40 billion yuan
(US$4.8 billion).
Experts predict that China will become the world's largest market
for broad band products by 2005. Now, the suppliers are shifting
their focus and working on the contents transmitted through broad
band networks.
(China
Daily December 28, 2001)