China Telecom to open office in India

[Marxist]

CEO of Chinese operator's international arm says company is working with Indian telcos on cable system.

China Telecom Corp. is open to overseas acquisitions, and is cooperating with three Indian telecom carriers to establish a cable connection between China and India, a China Telecom executive said Tuesday, as the fixed-line operator sets its sights abroad amid slowing growth in its home market.

Deng Xiao Feng, chairman and chief executive of China Telecom's international arm, told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview that the company is also awaiting Indian government approval to establish a representative office in New Delhi.

"India is an important market," Deng said."It's a fast-growing country and it has very good prospects for economic growth."

Click here to find out more!The company is currently cooperating with Bharti Airtel Ltd., Reliance Communications Ltd. and Tata Communications Ltd. on establishing a cable connection between the two countries.

"We look forward to cooperating with major carriers (in India.) We're not interested in buying a network or a stake (in India) but rather we want to provide a service by working with these carriers," said the executive.

China Telecom to open office in India

 

[Marxist]

HONG KONG — China Telecom is in talks with several Indian operators over a cable connection between the two countries, while also eyeing possible overseas acquisitions, a report said Wednesday.

China's biggest fixed-line operator was talking to Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and Tata Communications over an above-ground cable connection linking the two Asian giants, the Wall Street Journal reported, quoting Deng Xiao Feng, chairman of the firm's international arm.

The two countries are currently linked by undersea cables, which are vulnerable to earthquakes, the paper said, adding that China Telecom has already laid a landline on the Chinese side of their common border.

"We hope that this Sino-Indian land cable can start up as soon as possible and promote ties between the two fast-growing economies, because we know the demand is enormous," Deng told the Journal.

But Deng dismissed the acquisition of a network or stake in an Indian carrier, citing licensing and regulatory hurdles, the Journal said.

He added that the company was awaiting Indian government approval to open a representative office in New Delhi.

"India is an important market," Deng said. "It's a fast-growing country, and it has very good prospects for economic growth."

Deng also said the firm would "closely examine" acquisitions in the Asia-Pacific region as it seeks to offset slowing growth at home, but added that "it's not the right moment now," the Journal said.

AFP: China Telecom in India cable line talks: report