Nation to narrow digital divide, boost telecom universal services

China will pour more resources into promoting telecom universal services, as part of a massive push to reduce the digital divide between rural and urban residents, the country's top industry regulator said on Thursday.

Zhang Feng, chief engineer of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said telecommunication universal service embodies the fundamental rights and interests of all citizens in a country. It has been included in the supreme values upheld by the telecommunications sector for over 10 decades.

"So far, 98 percent of China's administrative villages have been covered by the 4G network and optical network, offering an effective way for rural residents to enjoy remote education, internet medical services, e-commerce and other internet-enabled services," Zhang said.