筹组中国数据网络特区加速电信改革

China Advanced Data Network" Special Zone proposed

Fang Hongyi of the Motion Picture & TV BroadcastingCenter recently presented a long article addressing theinformation industry reform. Fang noted that the urgent task isnow REFORM, and the essence of reform is the generalintroduction of full competition mechanism. However, somebodyhas tried to put restriction on such competition by affixing suchphrases as",within the scope of certain policy", or "on the basisof maintaining the network integrity and uniformity" as apremise, which still smells "monopoly under disguise". Fangalso strongly criticized the idea of State’s direct involvement ininformation industry reform planning and the formation of theso-called "State Group Army" within the context of informationindustry, which suggests that only China Telecom deserves theright of the sole representative of the State’s interest.Fang also questioned the feasibility of the formation ofthe "State’s Group Army" responsible for the safeguarding ofthe dilapidated circuit-switched voice networks and POTS (PlainOld Telephone Service), which can hardly meet the challengeof the international competitive forces, despite its seeminglysymbolic of sovereignty and integrity of the national networks.Fang advocates the idea of full liberalization of both networkand service markets, believing in that it will trigger bothincumbent and next generation internet networks revolution inChina."The candidate of the NG Internet will be IP-over-Optical", Fang predicted. The next generation informationindustrial revolution demands the building of new network sitesother than the in-place incumbent networks, which is by nomeans a" repeated construction". The question lies in "who willdo the job", the China Telecom or its competitors? "Facts andfigures have shown unprecedented fast growth within ChinaTelecom over the past decade, but this record of tremendoussuccesses is enough for China Telecom to use it as a pretext toshirk drastic reform", Fang remarked.Fang proposed to establish "China Cable TV NetworkGroup", an independent enterprise, which serves to separateCATV network from TV-broadcasting services. ChinaUNICOM, Railway, Electric Power, the Army and TV-broadcasting networks should be allowed to join hands onvoluntary basis. China Telecom is also criticized for its blind"repeated construction" of CATV nets countrywide, wheresimilar networks are already in place.At last, Fang proposed the creation of an informationspecial zone, called "China Advanced Data Network Specialzone" to be designed in five-star configuration, with its corebased in Beijing, radiating towards Shanghai, Fuzhou,Guangzhou and Shenzhen, economically and culturally moredeveloped regions. In the proposed special zone, a totally brandnew information industrial policy should be implemented,monopoly barriers of all kinds should be wiped out, networkinterconnections should be fully guaranteed, irrespective of whichcarriers will manage the networks, and the government will beresponsible for the supervision of the carrying out of this policy.In the special zone, both domestic and foreign capitalsshould be allowed to invest either in sole proprietorship or jointventure in various business activities, including networkconstruction, service operations and maintenance. The special zonemay take the advantage of the Hongkong-based internationalsubmarine optical cable gateway, connecting Shanghai, Shantouand Shenzhen to provide cost-effective high-speed internationalinformation channels.The proposed CADNet is a kind of public welfare network,which should be granted a special tax abatement to encouragedomestic enterprise to build up Chinese character informationdatabases for domestic educational nets and national digital library.In order to provide the mass with low-cost, high-speed Internetaccess, the CADNet should start in high profile, such as adoptinga tera-bit networking technology and broadband IP Chinesecharacter network platform technology.