SCIO press conference on development of industry and information technology in H1 2026

Phoenix TV:

The telecommunications service industry is closely related to everyone's life. What new measures has the MIIT introduced this year to optimize telecommunications services? How can we strengthen standardized management and guide operators to better protect consumer rights in the future? Thank you.

Wang Weiming:

Thank you for your questions. I would like to invite Mr. Xie to answer them.

Xie Cun:

Thank you for your questions. Information and communications services are widely integrated into the field of public services, and it can be said that they help the general public enjoy a digital lifestyle at all times. Since 2026, the MIIT has been practicing a people-centered approach, making progress while addressing problems, and continuously promoting the improvement of information and communication service levels, which is mainly reflected in the following three aspects.

First, we did our utmost to provide high-quality network services. As of the end of June, the total number of 5G base stations reached 5.102 million, and the commercial 5G-Advanced network covered more than 330 cities. Efforts were made to improve broadband coverage in border areas as well as across forests and grasslands. In June, the Dataflow of Usage (DOU) reached 23.57GB, an increase of 13.6% year on year. We successfully completed the communication service support for major events and efficiently responded to major natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and typhoons. Especially since the beginning of this year's flood season, the information and communications industry has accelerated the construction of super base stations and full-network-compatibility base stations, strengthened the cross-regional allocation and deployment of emergency communications equipment, established a joint delivery mechanism for emergency communication forces from multiple departments, and taken multiple measures to comprehensively improve the emergency communication support capabilities in extreme scenarios. As of 5 p.m. on July 19, a total of 46,600 base stations have been restored, with 190,100 person-times of support personnel deployed, together with 70,100 vehicle-times of emergency communication vehicles and 96,600 generator-times of oil generators. 1.731 billion emergency warning messages have been sent, and the "life-saving signals" have been restored in a rapid response. Second, we focused on improving the perceived quality of service. We launched a campaign to address the practical needs of the public, guided the introduction of 10 measures in this regard in 2026, and improved the "secondary confirmation" method and clarified the online and offline procedures for handling telecommunications services. We have continuously improved service convenience: video customer service served approximately 26 million users; the "one-click call" hotline answered by live agents served a total of 750 million elderlies; and the service regarding reallocated phone numbers unlinked phone numbers previously linked to application accounts more than 850 million times. Third, we stepped up efforts to regulate business and service practices. We strengthened the regulation and governance of the basic telecommunications market, enhanced tariff management and marketing channel control, effectively curbed irrational competition in the basic telecommunications market, and safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of users. If you find any problems such as non-compliant business practices or inadequate services by telecommunications companies, you can first file a complaint with the company. If you are not satisfied with the handling of the complaint by the company, you can file an appeal with the MIIT. We will guide and urge companies to properly handle user requests. At the same time, we will further strengthen service tracking and monitoring. If any violations are found, we will take measures such as conducting regulatory talks, issuing public notices, ordering corrective actions, and imposing administrative penalties to address them in accordance with the law, and we will resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the general public.

Going forward, the MIIT will adhere to strict supervision and management, further improve the whole-process control and closed-loop management mechanism for service supervision, continue to guide enterprises to refine their implementation measures, and constantly meet people's new needs and expectations for a better digital life. Furthermore, the current flood control and disaster relief efforts have entered a critical stage of front-line response. We will continue to strengthen cross-departmental coordination and, as always, spare no effort to safeguard emergency command communications for flood control and disaster relief, as well as the emergency repair and restoration of public communications in disaster-stricken areas. That concludes my introduction. Thank you.