HONG KONG -- While the Chinese government pushes for the quick development of a 5G mobile network, the big three state-owned telecom carriers are cautious about making the large investments required and are seeking ways to limit their exposure.
The second- and third-ranked carriers in the country see cooperation as a means to that end. China Telecom Chairman and CEO Ke Ruiwen declared on Thursday that his company is in "deep consideration" to jointly build a fifth-generation network with its peer China Unicom.