People's Posts and Telecommunications News:

Information and communication services touch every household and are closely related to people's daily lives. Could you please elaborate on the measures the MIIT took to better provide information and communication services for the public in 2023? What work will be carried out in the next step? Thank you.

Zhao Zhiguo:

Thank you for your question. The MIIT has taken practical measures to upgrade information and communication services, continuously empowering economic and social development and improving people's well-being.

Since last year, we have expanded internet coverage in more areas and in a better way, with 5G and gigabit optical networks continuously improved. We have realized "gigabit connectivity in all cities, 5G connectivity in all counties, and broadband connectivity in all villages." We initiated the implementation of a special action to upgrade internet services and improve the quality of mobile networks. We accelerated broadband development in border areas, helping to enrich locals and ensure stability there. Our services have also improved significantly. We upgraded telecommunications services, with over 80% of such services processed online and over 20 million users receiving video customer services. We issued and implemented the "Work Plan for Promoting the High-Quality Development of Digital Technology for Older Adults." Digital technology has been better applied for the convenience of older adults, with 2,577 websites and apps completing updates and barrier-free transformations to become more accessible to them. The "one-click call to human customer service" feature has served over 300 million older users. Communication guarantees have become more robust. We guaranteed communication services for major events such as the Chengdu Universiade and the Hangzhou Asian Games, as well as emergencies including the response to the flood disaster in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the Jishishan earthquake in Gansu. We have built a solid "lifeline, security line, and command line" for communication during major events and emergencies. We have addressed problems in a substantial way and achieved solid results. With a focus on strengthening the full-process and whole-chain governance of apps, we saw an increase of 20% in the pass rate of qualified apps on app stores. We have carried out in-depth governance of unsolicited electronic information, shutting down 4,212 illegal SMS port numbers, and the "call blocking" anti-harassment service has reached 620 million users. We continue to advance the prevention and control of telecom network fraud, intercepting nearly 5 billion calls and messages involving fraud and verifying and handling over 200 million high-risk internet accounts related to fraud.

Building a comprehensive information and communication service system that benefits the public is an unwavering pursuit of the entire industry and an important livelihood project. In the next step, our work will focus on the following aspects.

First, we must pay equal attention to supply and better experiences and deliver more digital benefits for the people. We need to optimize and upgrade new information infrastructures and applications, enhance universal telecommunications services, and strengthen network operation security and emergency communication support. We will accelerate the in-depth integration of digital technology with residents' consumption scenarios, and cultivate and promote new digital consumption formats and applications such as smart home services, digital health, and smart life, enriching people's digital lives. We will carry out the 2.0 upgrade of digital technology for the convenience of senior citizens, launch a group of new functions for the elderly and persons with disabilities, and promote the sharing of digital technology for senior citizens.

Second, we must adhere to equal emphasis on regulation and guidance to promote the healthy development of the industry. We will carry out in-depth campaigns to improve mobile internet application services, promote close collaboration between upstream and downstream industries such as development and operation, application distribution, and smart terminals, and create a healthy and orderly industry ecosystem. We will formulate compliance guidelines for telecommunications and internet services, release a series of standards and specifications such as personal information protection, and guide enterprises to protect user rights and interests throughout the entire production and operation process and each link. We will organize the selection of outstanding cases that are well received by users, carry out key internet service quality assessments, set fine examples, stimulate positive energy in the industry, and better meet the needs of users in all aspects.

Third, we need to insist on equal emphasis on good and joint governance to improve the effectiveness of comprehensive governance. We will accelerate the construction of public service platforms for mobile internet applications and actively use innovative technologies such as big data, artificial intelligence, and large language models to boost agile, precise, and efficient supervision. We will carry out in-depth rectification of unsolicited electronic messages and continuously improve the blocking of unwanted calls and provision of anti-harassment services for the protection of users' peaceful lives. We will strengthen the prevention and control of telecom and cyber fraud, enhance basic management such as the real-name registration, continue to deepen the anti-fraud technology system, and effectively safeguard the safety of people's property. We will intensify collaboration with relevant departments, social sectors, and relevant industry parties to build and improve a co-governance pattern of government regulation, corporate self-discipline, and public supervision. Thank you.