These resources will contribute significantly to the timely completion and maintenance of the submarine cable networks that the company supplies. Alcatel's strategy is to work through both long-term charter and ownership of cable ships. The Company now controls a significant portion of the world's available cable ships for the installation and maintenance of the networks it supplies. Alcatel currently manages 11 main lay vessels through charter arrangements or ownership. ZMCC has approved the GPRS trial network and will commence commercial trial.
China is one of the fastest growing GSM markets in the world.
Considering that China adds 15 to 20 million new mobile subscribers every year and taking into account the tremendous growth of Internet users, China is expected to have three to five million mobile data users within the next three years. This solution will offer end users an integrated voice and fast Internet access over a single copper pair using ADSL broadband access technology. Consequent to the success of this trial, SingTel will be the first telco in the Asia Pacific region to offer voice services over ADSL to its subscribers.