Mobile number portability program launched

China launched a mobile number portability program across the country on Nov 27, allowing cellphone subscribers to switch service carriers without changing phone numbers, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Basic telecommunication service providers were encouraged to lower prices. The goal is to cut the average rate for mobile internet services by no less than 20 percent, according to a notice jointly issued by MIIT and State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission in May.