China Mobile to book 1.525 bln yuan provision in 2000 results for analog ops

HONG KONG (AFX-ASIA) - China Mobile (Hong Kong) Ltd said it plans to book a 1.525 bln yuan provision in its 2000 results to reflect the cost of terminating its analog communications services.	    In a statement, China Mobile said it will discontinue its analog communications business by the end of 2001.	    As of end-2000, its analog equipment had a net book value of 1.525 bln yuan, it said.	    China Mobile said it will massively reduce the operating scale of its analog network and gradually terminate certain functions of the network by the end of June.	    It said the move is aimed at increasing the utilisation rate of transmission lines, reducing significant equipment maintenance expenses and saving operating costs.	    China Mobile said it plans to encourage analog subscribers to upgrade to a digital network by offering free airtime in its GSM digital mobile services.	    Based on its existing analog subscriber base of about 1.5 mln as of end-2000, China Mobile said it estimates the cost of this offer at about 700 mln yuan.

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