DHAKA: China will open up some telecom and internet services to foreign ownership.

Five areas, including call centres and home internet access, will be open to full foreign ownership, the state-owned Xinhua news agency has said, reports the BBC.

Firms providing online data and analysis services will have a cap of 55% foreign ownership.

Foreign companies looking to offer these services will have to base their infrastructure in the Shanghai free trade zone, Xinhua said.

However, overseas firms will be allowed to offer services across the country, the Xinhua news agency quoted Wen Ku, head of the telecom development department as saying.

The only exception is home internet access, with foreign-owned firms allowed to offer the service only to consumers within the free trade zone.

BDST: 1623 HRS, JAN 08, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor