Getting A Permit: Guidelines For Telecom Operators

The recently promulgated Administration of Foreign-funded Telecommunications Enterprises Provisions  (外商投资电信企业管理规定) (the New Telecom FIE Regulations, see pages 30-35 and 48-55) should be read in conjunction with the Administration of Telecommunications Business Permits Procedures (Document No. 19) promulgated by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) on December 26 2001, and which entered into effect on the same day as the New Telecom FIE Regulations.

No Permit, No Service Provision

Under the September 2000 PRC Telecommunications Regulations  (中华人民共和国电信条例) (the Telecom Regulations), all telecom operators in China must possess a telecom services operating permit1 before they are allowed to provide telecom services.  Document No. 19 governs the application for, approval and administration of such operating permits.