Central SOEs Guarantee Phone Connection, Electricity, Gas in Anti-Coronavirus Battle

Three telecommunication service operators, two power grid companies and China Resource (Holdings) Co., Ltd. (CR), all Chinese central SOEs, recently guaranteed non-stop phone connection as well as power and gas supply during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia.

The three telecommunication service operators – China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom), China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd. (China Unicom) and China Mobile Limited (China Mobile) – initiated services including non-stop or delayed phone connection to guarantee normal connection of the front-line workers and users in areas where the novel coronavirus battle is being waged.

Operators also opened online services so users could handle their business more easily.

China Telecom established a free account, "Tianyi E Cloud conference", which allows as many as 100 parties to attend the same meeting at any time and with no times limits.

In addition, information about calls from strangers will be provided to users and the Tianyi Ultra High Definition (UHD) service, Tianyi E Cloud VR and Tianyi E Cloud games are all free to use during the anti-coronavirus period.

By Feb 1, China Unicom had delayed phone disconnection for 297.9 million users in 29 provincial regions to guarantee the telecommunication needs in areas where the epidemic is most intense.

The company also offered 520 yuan ($74.53) of phone charges to each medical staffer who volunteered to work in Hubei Province and free internet quotas to Hubei residents.

Cross regional and online business service is on offer to reduce travel for its users and movies of the IPTV and 5G Wo video platforms are being provided to the public for free.

China Mobile had opened a non-stop connection service for 686,000 front-line staffs related to epidemic prevention and control as well as front-line medical workers by Feb 2.

The company's telecommunication work covered 31 provincial regions by Feb 9.

About 30,520 staff members and 15,000 workers of China Mobile's hotline 10086 joined in telecommunication supporting work. The company has also dispatched 8,214 vehicles and sent more than 8 billion public messages to support dissemination of anti-coronavirus information.

More online services offering remote meetings and promoting medical information are on the way to make it easier for users to pay water, gas and electricity bills and search for information about the epidemic.

State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) and China Southern Power Grid (CSG) have promoted 24 online services to ensure safe and reliable power supply during the anti-coronavirus battle.

State Grid encourages people to deal with business online and its APP is ready for service 24/7.

Branches in Guangdong, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hainan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of CSG are offering non-stop power supply for residents.

The same service for gas supply is promoted by China Resources Gas Group Limited (CR Gas).

A subsidiary of CR, CR Gas is responsible for gas supply to 1.47 million households in 18 cities of Hubei Province.

During the anti-coronavirus period, 58 gas supply stations, 17 tube stations, 56 mid-high pressure regulator stations and four liquefied natural gas (LNG) stations will work normally. In addition, 17 gas filling stations and 16 service halls will open during the period. Users can also call the CR Gas hotline at any time.

The company will also add 38 payment machines in neighborhoods to make it easier for users to pay the bills, while staffers have been stationed to guarantee safe and stable production at regional natural gas stations all-day round.

CR Gas will also cooperate with gas resource companies to guarantee supply to hospitals and public medical institutes.

State Grid staff members ensure safe and stable power supply to people during the anti-coronavirus period. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)