It is reported that China Mobile has 880 million users in the local market and has built a large-scale international submarine optical cable and enterprise network. The company said that entering the UK is the next major step in its global strategy: it is the first time that the group has launched a network service outside China.
Feng Li, Chairman and CEO of China Mobile International Co., Ltd. said: "We have 880 million users and 90 million tourists travel overseas every year ... Expanding the network to the UK has opened a window for us to go global."
China Mobile said that according to its research, there are about 500,000 British Chinese living in Britain (excluding 82,000 overseas students from China). In the first half of this year, it is estimated that 165438+5000 China tourists will visit Britain.
Feng Li added that the company also saw opportunities to increase its share in the UK corporate communications market, such as providing free roaming in China and calling China mobile users for British companies doing business in China.
China Mobile is not the first China telecom company to test the water in Britain. In 20 12, China Telecom signed an agreement with ——Everything Everywhere, the predecessor of EE, and now it belongs to BT, with the same goal, which is aimed at tourists and overseas Chinese.
Last year, China Unicom, with 350 million users, signed a roaming agreement with Manx Telecom.
When asked about the potential merger, Feng Li said that the company is still studying the UK and other markets. He said, "We'll see later."
Theo blackwell, the chief digital officer under the mayor of London, said at a news conference in London that the launch of China Mobile's business in the UK was an important step to make London a "data capital" in the world after the referendum of Britain's withdrawal from the EU.
Feng Li also actively emphasized the growing trade ties between China and Britain. He said, "China and Britain are getting closer and closer. Our network will help this process. "
Development moves towards globalization.