CHINA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LAW NEWSLETTER
Vol. 2, No. 17 - December 18, 2001
TOPICS THIS ISSUE:
- First International Information Technology Show
- New PRC Domain Name Dispute Resolution Center
- China Broadband Cooperates with Municipal Authorities
- Imprisonment for Dissident Sending Articles via Internet
- Nokia's China Partnership is Growing
- Ericsson Signs Deal and Expands Cooperation
First International Information Technology Show
The first China International Information Technology Exhibition was held in Beijing from December 13-16. It was sponsored by the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) and organized by the China Electronics Science & Technology Center, a department under the MII. The fair displayed about 200 domestic and international firms, among others Haier and Panasonic. The latest products and technologies were exhibited, such as ways to control home appliances via the Internet, computers, software and telecommunications.
(Source: Xinhua News Service)
New PRC Domain Name Dispute Resolution Center
A joint cooperation between Beijing and Hong Kong will result in the opening of a pioneering Internet domain name dispute resolution center. The center is scheduled to open in February and goes by the name of The Asian Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Center. The partners in cooperation are the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC) and the Hong Kong Arbitration Center. The plan is for the Center to take on 20- 200 cases each month in its first year. The creation of the Center will take a load off the regular courts, where currently most domain name disputes are handled. It will be the fourth authorized Center for this type of disputes, apart from the two Centers in the United States and one in Geneva.
(Source: Agence France Presse)
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China Broadband Cooperates with Municipal Authorities
China Broadband Corp., through its operational partner, Big Sky Network Canada Ltd., is using the gray regulatory areas of the Chinese telecom sector to its advantage. Chinese government regulations forbid the convergence of TV and telecom networks. China Broadband has used this regulation in their favor and is able to secure approval for offering a convergence product, instead of direct conversion, which is not allowed.
China Broadband is a leading broadband provider in China and supplies Internet services over local cable TV networks in China. It forms cooperative joint ventures with network operators who bring technology and management in to the venture. Its operational subsidiary is Big Sky Network Canada Ltd. The Canadian company decided not to wait for China's WTO accession and has signed several deals in a market that is mainly closed to large telecommunication and media companies.
The joint venture partner, Big Sky Network Canada Ltd., does not run Internet networks but leases equipment and reaps a percentage of the operating revenues over a 15-20 year period.
China Broadband's successful cooperation model is based on working with business interests of municipal or provincial authorities through cooperative joint ventures in order to provide reliable Internet access.
Early in 2000, the cooperating partners received a first license to start business in Shekou, near Hong Kong. The Guangdong Ministry of Information Industry gave the approval with help from China Broadband's partner, China Merchant's Group, a State-owned enterprise. According to the same model, approval was received in Sichuan after cooperating with Huayu, a Chengdu cable company, and is now aiming for Chongqing, Hunan and Fujian in order to launch local services.
(Source: Financial Times, Business Wire)
Imprisonment for Dissident Sending Articles via Internet
The use of the Internet has grown rapidly in China over the past few years. At the same time as the government encourages the growth because of the economic advantages, it also wants to make sure that the Internet is not used for political purposes in a way, which can have a negative influence on the Communist Party's power.
The government's will to put down such activities are most recently displayed by the imprisonment of a democracy activist in eastern China. He has been sentenced to four years for distributing pro-democracy articles via the Internet. According to information from a Hong Kong human rights organization, the dissident belongs to a banned group called the China Democracy Party in Shandong, and he allegedly sent messages to overseas pro-democracy groups.
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Nokia's China Partnership is Growing
Nokia will assist Hebei Telecom to expand their broadband network. They will supply so-called D50e DSLAM (Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer) and other related services. This product adds interactive media and streaming video services in addition to fast Internet access in Hebei Province.
China is Nokia's second largest market and it is committed to long- term development of partnerships in China.
Another example of Nokia's growing cooperation is the delivery to Hubei Quantong of the Nokia 800 MHz TETRA trial network. The TETRA network is the only system of that type that provides Chinese functions, such as short messaging and a Chinese interface. TETRA contracts have also been signed with the Hong Kong Fire Department and Tianjin Water.
(Source: M2 Presswire, Business Wire)
Ericsson Signs Deal and Expands Cooperation
The Swedish Communications company Ericsson has signed a deal with Sichuan Mobile worth US$143 million, which increases the cooperation that Ericsson started in 1993.
The contract concerns GSM/GPRS expansion and will be completed in June next year, with the use of equipment and services provided by Nanjing Ericsson Panda and Dalian Ericsson Communication Companies. The deal will increase the number of subscribers to 4.2 million and will also enable the Sichuan company to provide pre-paid services, private numbers as well as expand GPRS functionality in general.
(Sources: Associated Press)
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