The Information Technology 100
56
China Telecom
With $19.5 billion in sales last year, state-owned China Telecom is China's biggest fixed-line phone operator. But the company's executives have had to watch from the cellular sidelines as the nation's GSM and CDMA market -- more than 340-million strong -- boomed. Without a cellular license, China Telecom hasn't been able to offer the GSM and CDMA services of China Mobile and China Unicom, although it has compensated by providing a cellular-like service, using a wireless local loop.
By yearend, though, China Telecom may finally break into that fast-growth market. Perhaps one sign that China Telecom will win a license: CEO Wang Xiaochu was head of China Mobile until the government moved him to China Telecom last year. While Wang and his team wait for news on the cellular front, they've launched experimental Net-based TV services they hope will reduce their reliance on fixed-line revenues.
Company Info
| STOCK INFO | CHA |
| Revenues* | $19.5 BILLION |
| Revenue Growth | 6.4% |
| Return on Equity | 17.6% |
| Total Return | 13.9% |
| Profits* | $3.4 BILLION |
| Industry | TELECOM SERVICES |
| CORPORATE WEB SITE | |
All figures are for the most recent available 12 months.
* Latest available data for the 12-month period ended Dec. 31, Jan. 31, Feb. 29, Mar. 31, or Apr. 30. For companies that do not report quarterly, the most recent annual data were used.
Data provided by Standard & Poor's Compustat, BusinessWeek
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Company Snapshot
China Telecom Corp. Limited provides wireline telecommunications services, including local, domestic long distance and international long distance telephone services, Internet and managed data, leased line, and other related services to residential and business customers. China Telecom Corp. was incorporated in 2002 and is based in Beijing. It's 77.78% owned by China Telecom Group, as of March 30, 2004.
No. of Employees
NA
Data provided by 
Xiaochu Wang
Bio
Xiaochu Wang has been President of China Telecommunications Corporation since November 2004 and serves as its General Manager. Mr. Wang served as Chief Executive Officer of China Telecom Corporation Ltd. since October 2004. He also serves as the Chairman and General Manager of China Telecom's listed unit. He joined the Board of Directors of China Mobile Hong Kong Ltd., in March 1999 and serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of China Mobile Hong Kong Ltd. Mr. Wang graduated from Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications in 1980.