Scrapping roaming fees is the first step toward a more digitized society

CHINA'S THREE MAJOR TELECOM CARRIERS - China Mobile Communications Corp, China United Network Communications Group Co and China Telecommunications Corp - announced on Thursday their decision to scrap domestic long-distance and roaming charges starting Sept 1. Thepaper.cn commented on Saturday:

Finally, the days of long-distance, roaming charges will be gone for good. However, that the long-anticipated move is due to take effect a month ahead of the deadline set by the State Council, China's Cabinet, raises the question about whether the three flagship providers would have canceled them had it not been for Premier Li Keqiang's push.

In the Government Work Report he delivered in March, Li demanded the cancellation of the yearslong charging practice as part of government's move to build a stronger internet industry. The next day, the three telecom giants said that they would make it happen starting Oct 1.