Reiman Says Russian Mobile Operators May Enter Chinese Market

BEIJING, Nov 3 (Prime-Tass) -- Russian mobile operators may enter the Chinese market, Russian IT and Telecommunications Minister Leonid Reiman said Thursday, ITAR-TASS reported. Reiman was speaking before the meeting of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao.

"Russian (mobile) operators could enter this large market with a good outlook, if normal conditions are set. Some steps in this direction are being made," Reiman said without elaborating.

"There are about 375 million mobile handsets in China, which leaves space for further development," Reiman said, adding that the market is "far from being saturated with mobile services." China's population amounts to over 1.3 billion people.

"Russian companies are striving to expand the geographical territory of their operations," Reiman said. "Russian mobile operators are present in almost all Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS," Reiman added.

Russian mobile operators have subsidiaries in five CIS countries.

Russia

Posted to the site on 3rd November 2005