The three major operators are still scratching their fingers if their fee reduction is lower than expected
On the first anniversary of the implementation of speed increase and fee reduction in the telecommunications market, the three major operators announced their plans for speed increase and fee reduction in the new year, and said that they would further increase the speed in 4G and optical broadband, and put forward such positive measures as "lowering the standard tariff".
However, some experts said that these schemes still remained on the basis of "increasing the volume without increasing the price", far from the desire of users to reduce communication expenditure.
On the occasion of the "5.17 World Telecommunication Day" and the first anniversary of the implementation of speed increase and fee reduction in the telecommunications market, the three major operators have announced their plans for speed increase and fee reduction in the new year. This year, the three major operators all said they would improve the coverage and speed of mobile 4G networks and fixed optical broadband.
Operator: Average tariff will be further reduced
"In 2016, China Telecom will vigorously promote the construction of optical networks and the in-depth coverage of 4G networks, and form cohesion in five key areas, including IPTV, wing payment, the Internet of Things, Internet+, cloud and big data." Relevant people said. China Telecom will continue to speed up its optical network broadband, with the average access rate rising to more than 35M, and the effect of speed increase is still very obvious.
The 4G development of China Mobile is still accelerating. At the end of March, the number of 4G users has exceeded 376 million. If it reaches 500 million, it is still very obvious that China Mobile is the largest. China Mobile's strong "insertion" of fixed broadband services was a highlight in 2016. Due to the very low ARPU value, it is difficult to reduce the cost in 2016, which is likely to be "speed up without price increase". In addition, because China Mobile Broadband replaced China Telecom and China Unicom Broadband, China Mobile Broadband's overall share increased, which will also be an important area of cost reduction.
The three major operators all said that they would continue to push the unit bandwidth price and average traffic tariff down further. However, only China Unicom has put forward specific goals and detailed plans. China Unicom's 2016 work plan for speed increase and fee reduction shows that it will strive to reduce the fixed broadband unit broadband tariff by no less than 15% year on year compared with 2015, and reduce the comprehensive unit price of mobile data traffic by no less than 15%
Expert: It's hard to really meet the needs of users
Fu Liang, a telecom expert, said that the three major operators have all proposed plans to increase speed and reduce fees, but it is certainly difficult to be satisfied. Without understanding the attitude of the competent department and the needs of users, the plan formulated according to their own situation is difficult to hit the pain points of users. The "cut of standard fees" proposed by China Mobile Unicom is a very positive measure, but such measures are too few. Unicom is the only company that has put forward specific goals and detailed practices, but this goal has not met the external expectations.
He said that to lower the threshold of the "long market" package, the three major operators have launched in succession in various regions. It is expected to attract some 2G/3G users to switch to the network, but it has not changed the tariff, which has limited impact on the cost reduction. Some provinces and cities may cancel (or weaken) some traffic subsidies and gifts, thus reducing the user perception of the cost reduction. For example, China Telecom can open up old users to the new long-distance no roaming package, which is a positive cost reduction measure, but only this measure will certainly not satisfy the outside world. The continuation of the old measures will increase the number of beneficiaries, but the impact on most users will be weaker than in 2015.
The operator's fee reduction measures still remain in the "volume without price increase". For example, the price of China Unicom's package remains unchanged and the flow in the package is increased. Although it is also a reduction in the price, the practice of "monthly package discount" has been carried out in 2015. "Discount", "safe use" and other means can only be regarded as promotional activities. It is better to reduce the price, increase the flow included in the package, and increase the flow package.
Three operators' latest plans for speed increase and cost reduction
China Mobile
The threshold of the "Long Market Man" integrated package was reduced to 18 yuan
increase speed
China Mobile said it would speed up the construction of 4G network. In 2016, it plans to add 200 million 4G users and reach 500 million 4G users; Strive to achieve VoLTE voice service quality close to 2/3G network level, and achieve full commercial use of VoLTE high-definition voice in 2016. At the same time, China Mobile will comprehensively carry out fixed broadband business operations and promote the construction of all-optical network. Build a high-quality and efficient fixed broadband network based on 50M access capability, and the national average access rate will reach more than 20M.
Cost reduction
It is planned that by the end of this year, 8 measures of speed increase and fee reduction will have covered more than 300 million customers from 135 million at the end of 2015; Further reduce the threshold of the unified package of "long market and free market" integration to 18 yuan; Lower the standard rate of traffic and continue to implement the service that the remaining traffic of the monthly package is not reset that month, covering all 530 million traffic package customers.
China Telecom
4G speeds up and gradually cancels mobile long-distance roaming fees
increase speed
4G+services were launched in 330 cities, and the network peak download rate was increased from 150M to 300M; The second is to increase the speed of optical bandwidth. Through the promotion of 100M broadband and other measures, we will strive to reach 30% of broadband users at 50M, 100M and above speeds by the end of this year
Cost reduction
China Telecom will gradually eliminate the mobile domestic long-distance and roaming charges. For new users who handle 4G packages such as Le Share, Flying Young, and Easy Pass, the mobile domestic toll fee and roaming fee will be canceled; Old users can cancel by changing the package voluntarily.
China Unicom
Reduce the standard rate of traffic and other means to reduce the rate
increase speed
In 2016, it is planned to launch 100 4G+terminals, with an annual investment of 75 billion yuan. Speed of key cities increased to 50M; Other cities will increase the penetration rate to 20M. In non urban areas, the penetration rate will increase to 10M
Cost reduction
Unicom mainly reduced the standard rate of traffic, increased the traffic included in the package, increased the penetration rate of 4G terminals, introduced monthly discount of package, promoted the function of safe use of traffic, and increased the popularity of traffic packages to reduce the rate. At the same time, we will continue to reduce fixed broadband tariffs by combining TV video services with measures such as lowering broadband access product tariffs and increasing the proportion of "Smart Wojia" full service integration packages.
