Telecommunications monopolies intolerable

A signboard of 4G is seen at a branch of China Mobile in Shanghai, Dec 28, 2013. [Photo/IC]

The Yunnan Communications Administration recently received a public warning and four of the State-owned telecommunication enterprises under its leadership were fined a total of 13.18 million yuan ($2.1 million) for colluding to exclude competition. Comments:

The legal enforcers have done a good job by punishing the enterprises and the administration. But why have they not fined the administration or held any of its officials accountable? It is common sense that the organizer should take more responsibility than the organized for any illegal activity. It is necessary to continue investigating the incident so that the responsible government agencies and staff are punished for their faults, which may help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Southern Metropolis Daily, June 6

It has long been common sense that the market should play a decisive role in allocating resources, but some government agencies and their leading officials still cling to the old belief that power solves everything. Sometimes they even disturb market order for the selfish interests of their own or their partners. Only the rule of law can regulate their power and stop their greedy hands from grabbing illicit interests from the market.

Xinmin Evening News, June 5

A deeper look at the incident will show that the administration might have been well-intentioned at first - it was possibly trying to prevent vicious competition among the four telecom SOEs under its control. The market is not without its deficiencies and sometimes needs arbitration from the government; however, that should not be done by sacrificing consumers' rights and interests. The market might be bad, but a monopoly would be worse.

Beijing Times, June 5