China’s Suning Appliance is looking to become one of the nation’s first mobile resellers, China Daily reports. The company, which specialises in electronics and e-commerce, is hoping to launch mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) services as part of the regulator’s drive to diversify the segment. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, earlier this month the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) proposed a two-year trial allowing companies to offer virtual mobile services. China Mobile has come out in support of the plans, though the other two network operators, China Unicom and China Telecom have not yet responded.
Sun Weimin, president of Suning Appliance outlined the retailer’s planned strategy for MVNO operations: ‘Ideally, when customers buy mobile phones at either Suning’s brick-and-mortar outlets or the online site, the devices come with a package that offers you a SIM card and a customised voice-and-data combo tailored to your needs.’