Carriers scramble to answer Li's call

With the central government pursuing its "Internet Plus" strategy, which involves providing better and faster information services to more traditional industries, demand for a faster Internet is becoming more urgent.

Carriers' moves

China Mobile:

1. Cellular package

10 yuan ($1.61) for 1G data used at night (11 pm-7 am)

10 yuan for 1G data for holidays

50 yuan for 2G data nationwide for 4G users

Any data package of more than 1G gets an additional 1G of data free at night

2. When the package runs out, 0.06 to 0.1 yuan/MB will be charged

3. Cellular fees outside of the Chinese mainland will decrease 70 percent on average

Day packages will be offered in 48 overseas markets

4. Monthly packages for unlimited calls, short messages

338 yuan with 3GB data

418 yuan with 6GB data

518 yuan with 11GB data

China Telecom:

1. Cellular fees

20 yuan for 3GB data used at night (11 pm-7 am)

25 yuan for 1GB

2. "Buy one get one free"

50 yuan package with 1G data, 70 yuan package gets a bonus of 1G data at night

3. Average broadband speed will rise from 11 Mbps to 20 Mbps with a 35 percent rate cut

China Unicom:

1. New cellular package

10 yuan for 1.5G local data each month available for six months

2. Video data package 18 yuan for 6GB

3. Cellular bank platform: transfer, share and exchange service

Sources: China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom

Related story: Tariff cuts likely to spur 4G usage by Gao Yuan, China Daily

Lower Internet charges will help increase the number of 4G subscribers in the country, experts said.

China is aiming to add 200 million 4G users this year as the network coverage extends to the less-developed inland areas, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Milly Xiang, an analyst with research firm International Data Corp in Beijing, said: "The lower Internet charges will prompt more 3G users to try out the 4G services." In addition, the introduction of smartphones with 4G capability by the second half of the year will boost subscriber numbers, she said.

By the end of last year, China had 583 million mobile broadband subscribers, according to the ministry. "Mobile tariffs have dropped by about 60 percent in the last three years," said a statement issued by the ministry.

However, Xiang said if one were to factor the average income of Chinese people, the country's Internet fees are still on the higher side, when compared with other developing nations. China is also looking to build about 600,000 4G base stations this year, a move that will bring in more subscribers from the rural areas.