BEIJING-China’s number-two fixed-line carrier, China Netcom Communications Group, has ordered US$114 million worth of PHS equipment from California-based UTStarcom to expand its Little Smart or Xiaolingtong service in the provinces of Hebei, Shandong and Liaoning.
Although the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) is trying to limit the service to smaller cities, it is becoming available in more provincial capitals.
Little Smart is an extension of the fixed-line network, offering cheaper services than regular mobile services. But in at least one provincial capital, China Mobile is fighting back with a discount service of its own called Baixingtong. Users who call other China Mobile subscribers in the city of Shijiazhuang are offered cheaper calls.
