6 May 2011 09:05

Tibet telecom investment to reach $1.57 bln during 5-year period

Beijing. May 6. INTERFAX-CHINA - The Tibet Autonomous Region government plans to allocate RMB 10.20 billion ($1.57 billion) for investment in communication infrastructure over the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said May 5.

Some RMB 70 million ($10.77 million) will be deployed annually over the period for construction of optical cable networks in rural areas, according to MIIT, citing the Tibet Communication Administration.

Fixed-line and mobile phone users in Tibet will reach an aggregate 2.86 million by 2015, up from 2.03 million users in March 2011, according to MIIT.

Village-level Internet coverage in Tibet will hit 100 percent by 2020, while broadband Internet coverage will reach 80 percent by the same period, MIIT added.

Tibet had 1.20 million Internet users last year, roughly 41 percent of the total population, Interfax reported May 3.

- RL