US next target for China Telecom

China Telecom is advancing its global MVNO strategy with plans to launch its brand in the US.
 
The operator plans to launch services early next year, targeting Chinese expats and students, and customers who frequently travel between the US and China. Executives from its US division are currently in talks with wholesale partners and may consider investing in its own infrastructure if there is enough future demand, Bloomberg reports.
 
China Telecom is seeking similar deals in Europe revealing to Telecoms Europe.net in August that it was in talks with service providers with a view to launching a similar MVNO business in the UK early 2012. Ou Yan, managing director of the firm’s Europe division, said the service would target Chinese expats and that he was keen to expand into additional markets including France and Germany.
 
As well as mobile services, the company is also considering making substantial wireline investments in the US or Canada.
 

The potential investments form part of a strategy to expand China Telecom's wireline operations in the US beyond big business to consumers in areas with large Chinese communities.