China Telecom in milestone UK mobile deal

China Telecom, the largest Chinese fixed-line telecoms company by customer numbers, is to launch a UK mobile phone business under an agreement with Everything Everywhere, the combined British operations of France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom.

China Telecom wants to win customers outside its domestic market by using existing local networks to roll out its branded services to Chinese residents as well as visitors from China such as students and tourists. China Telecom Europe has signed a strategic partnership to use the network of Everything Everywhere, the largest mobile operator in the UK by customer numbers. The UK is one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists, and the company is said to be keen to roll out its service ahead of a predicted increase in visitor numbers for the Olympics this year.