Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: Continue to increase the construction of broadband networks and 4G/5G base stations

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On March 3, the General Office of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued a notice on further improving the work of broadband network teaching and learning assistance during the prevention and control of the new coronavirus pneumonia epidemic. In order to continuously strengthen the ability of broadband network teaching and learning assistance, five requirements were put forward, including "increasing the construction of broadband networks and 4G/5G base stations."

1. Improve political standing. Local communications administration bureaus and basic telecommunications companies should thoroughly study and implement General Secretary Xi’s important speeches and instructions on epidemic prevention and control, follow the local work arrangements for “suspending classes but not learning”, highlight key points, target pain points, clear blockages, and do a good job in broadband network teaching and learning assistance. In particular, we should further highlight key groups and key links, do a good job in doing good things, and provide strong support for online education and teaching during the delayed opening of schools for epidemic prevention and control.

2. Strengthen network coverage. Local communications administration bureaus should organize basic telecommunications companies to continue to increase the construction of broadband networks and 4G/5G base stations, continuously improve school network bandwidth conditions, and provide network support for online teaching in schools of all levels and types. In conjunction with the pilot project of universal telecommunications services, we should accelerate network coverage in remote rural areas and focus on solving problems such as slow network speed and weak signal. We should actively cooperate with the education authorities, follow the local education and teaching arrangements, and promptly provide network security in key epidemic areas, temporary education and teaching venues, and other areas.

3. Improve platform capabilities. Local communications administration bureaus should proactively connect with education authorities and urge selected online education service providers to continuously optimize and improve platform capabilities, and effectively improve the access experience of teachers and students by strengthening platform construction and transformation, timely expanding bandwidth as needed, and increasing content distribution nodes. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will work with relevant departments to monitor key performance such as file download speed and video freeze rate of online education platforms at all levels and types, and announce them to the public in due course.

4. Provide preferential tariffs. Encourage basic telecommunications companies to launch preferential data packages and other targeted assistance measures for students from poor families with established archives to reduce the pressure of Internet charges on students in need. Local communications administration bureaus should strengthen organization and coordination, and coordinate with local poverty alleviation offices (bureaus) and education authorities to coordinate data on assisted persons, and ensure that relevant assistance measures are accurately implemented.

5. Do a good job in network maintenance. Basic telecommunications companies should strengthen the monitoring of broadband network operation status, promptly discover and eliminate potential faults; establish a rapid processing mechanism, set up a customer service team, open up business consultation, service and complaint channels, and promptly resolve network usage-related issues reported by teachers and students, and support the smooth implementation of online education and teaching during the delayed opening of schools due to epidemic prevention and control.