Unicom's reform progress may encourage other SOEs to follow suit

As China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd presses ahead with its 78 billion yuan ($12.3 billion) mixed-ownership reform, its progress is likely to encourage other State-owned enterprises to follow suit, experts said.

Li Jin, chief researcher at the China Enterprise Research Institute, said the brave steps by China Unicom to partner with private internet heavyweights set a good example for other SOEs eager to embrace changes.

"The influx of tech giants can help complement China Unicom's current business and it is also good for the country's second largest telecom carrier by subscribers to move upward in the industry chain," Li said.