China Mobile to cut roaming costs in 64 countries
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China Mobile to cut roaming costs in 64 countries

China Mobile has pledged to cut roaming charges for calls and data in 64 countries and regions based along China’s Silk Road area.

Roaming fees for calls made by the Chinese operator’s customers in these areas will fall to 0.99 yuan (15c) or less per minute, a China Mobile executive said.

It will also lower the cost of using the internet in 53 of the 64 areas highlighted, with China Mobile set to launch several unlimited internet packages in some locations.

Bao Jianyi, a marketing executive with the Beijing-based company, told a press conference that the new charges will come into play from 1 May 2017 following a two month trial, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

The move comes in response to demands from China’s central government to boost internet speeds and accelerate the development of the country’s digital economy.

The Silk Road forms part of China’s Belt and Road initiative, proposed by Xi Jinping in 2013, that aims to boost connectivity and cooperation between China and the rest of Eurasia.

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