Three top administrative departments at the State Council jointly issued an emergency notice announcing a nationwide crackdown on illegal activities in the international telecom business.
Unapproved organizations or individuals are forbidden in the international telecom field, said the notice released by the Ministry of Information Industry, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce.
Activities by unapproved companies will be regarded as illegal and the companies will be punished according to relative laws and regulations. Serious breaches of this regulation will be prosecuted under the criminal law.
Legal telecom operators are also forbidden to provide connection services to illegal companies.
Telecom operators are also asked to play a more active role in helping telecom administrators report illegal activates.
Illegal telecom operators usually provide international telecom services at a much lower price than approved by the State using unapproved secret channels.
(China Daily November 21, 2002)
