The Economist wonders if China’s statist control of telecommunications can still deliver the kind of benefits free markets can:
The reorganisation is the fourth since China first opened its telecoms industry to limited, state-orchestrated competition. Each time the government has arranged things to mirror the outcome produced by market forces in the West. The process has worked well in many ways: fees are low, access is broad and growth is strong. But will China’s pursuit of industrial-policy goals now hamper the industry’s progress?