China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued what's being called "virtual telecom carrier" licenses to ten private companies. It's a breakthrough reform for the country's mobile telecom field, as it will allow private capital to enter a market that's currently dominated by state-owned companies.
Upon getting the licences, private companies will be able to rent telecommunication equipment and services from China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, and then recreate their own telecom brands to sell to the public.
Their services will include voice-calls, text messages, and mobile internet data services.