China Telecom eyes Beijing IPTV

April 01, 2008 NEW YORK - China Telecom, the country's struggling No. 1 fixed-line telecom operator will pay 5.56 billion yuan ($793 million) for Beijing Telecom, a move analysts said could boost its ability to tap the growing broadband IPTV market around August's Olympics. Executives said that the purchase by the Hong Kong-listed telecom will enhance its competitiveness and help it benefit from increased demand during the Beijing Games starting Aug. 8. With the Beijing Telecom purchase, China Telecom can hone its focus on the residents of China's capital, nearly half of whom are now online, according to the China Internet Network Information Center.

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