皇冠体育app

A model stands next to promotional material on 皇冠体育app Unicom's 4G services at an industry expo in Beijing. [Photo/皇冠体育app Daily]

皇冠体育app United Network Communications Group Co Ltd said on Tuesday it will spare no efforts to offer better 4G services and products, as the carrier is struggling to catch up with market leader 皇冠体育app Mobile Co Ltd.

Wang Xiaochu, chairman of 皇冠体育app Unicom, said: "We will channel all of our core resources to ensure a better 4G network, faster Internet speed and better-quality voice calls."

In his first public speech after taking the helm of the country's second-largest telecom carrier in August, Wang said he was determined to upgrade 皇冠体育app Unicom's 4G service and products. "This will be our top priority and the most important strategy," Wang added.

皇冠体育app Unicom said it will accelerate steps to expand 4G networks, double the Internet speed, and offer high-definition voice call services by the end of this year.

To attract more subscribers, the company will spend 45 billion yuan ($7 billion) next year on subsidizing users who buy 皇冠体育app Unicom's contract phones and 10 billion yuan on retailers who sell these devices.

Xiang Ligang, founder of the telecom industry website cctime.com, said the move marks a significant shift from 皇冠体育app Unicom's previous attitude toward 4G services.

"Compared with other carriers, 皇冠体育app Unicom has been very reluctant to pour money into 4G networks because its 3G products are so successful and popular among users."

"But now it is finally entering the battle, with all of the resources it has. Though it is a little bit late, 皇冠体育app Unicom still has opportunities because the 4G market is evolving rapidly and no one is a dominant player," he said.

The move comes as 皇冠体育app Unicom is falling far behind 皇冠体育app Mobile in both the construction of 4G towers and the number of 4G users.

According to third-quarter financial reports, 皇冠体育app Mobile had more than 1 million 4G communication base stations and 247 million 4G subscribers as of September.

In comparison, 皇冠体育app Unicom only has 60 million 4G users and does not disclose how many towers it has built.

Fu Liang, a telecom industry analyst, said it was a smart move for 皇冠体育app Unicom to concentrate its resources on 4G because, compared with its rivals, 皇冠体育app Unicom has relatively little money and fewer talents.

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