China Telecom, one of China’s two big fixed-line carriers, said Thursday it had proposed to regulators to join with fixed-line rival China Netcom to buy one of the two wireless networks operated by China Unicom Ltd.

China Telecom chairman and chief executive Wang Xiaochu said he proposed China Telecom and China Netcom each operate a regional network in the country. China Unicom now operates two different wireless networks.

Speculation over a possible restructuring of the mainland telecom industry has been rife in recent months as China prepares to outline plans to build third-generation (3G) wireless networks.

“I made a formal proposal to the relevant regulatory authorities in December,” Wang, who left top mobile-phone carrier China Mobile (Hong Kong) three months ago, told reporters.

He said his proposal would enable China to have three profitable national wireless networks.

(Shenzhen Daily February 4, 2005)