Steadily Advance Telecom Universal Service s Win the Battle for Poverty Alleviation

1. Steadily Advance Telecom Universal Services Win the Battle for Poverty Alleviation GonpoDorjee, Communication Administration Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region August 2019

2. Work Results 1 Main Contents Typical Practices 2

3. Work Results 1 (1) Fiber Broadband Construction 1. In 2016, Tibet launched the telecom universal services pilot project together with other regions of the country. It has included 5,210 qualified administrative villages in the pilot project, and invested approximately 2.2 billion yuan, including fiscal subsidies of about 800 million. 2. Through three batches of fiber broadband construction of telecom universal services, 98% of the administrative villages in Tibet have got access to the broadband network of over 12Mbps, and most have achieved 100Mbps broadband connections. Series 1 Before implementation of universal services After implementation of universal services Figure 1 Comparison of administrative villages in fiber broadband connections

4. Work Results 1 (2) 4G Signal Coverage • 1. Tibet's communication industry focuses on improving the 4G network coverage capacity of administrative villages, and actively implements the fourth batch of construction tasks of the telecom universal services pilot project in accordance with the requirements of the notice of MIIT and the Ministry of Finance on deeply advancing telecom universal services. It has included 2,420 administrative villages, resident dwelling areas and regions along national and provincial roads in the telecom universal services pilot project, and invested a total amount of around 2.5 billion, including fiscal subsidies of about 700 million, striving to achieve the full coverage in these administrative villages before the end of 2019. 2. So far, 88% of the administrative villages have achieved 4G signal coverage.

5. Work Results 1 (2) 4G Signal Coverage Major goals this year 1 Continue to view telecom universal services as a key task 2 According to the Main Points of the Network Poverty Alleviation Work in 2019, which was jointly issued by the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, NDRC, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and MIIT, Tibet has deeply implemented President Xi Jinping’s important remarks about the poverty alleviation work, striven to solve the prominent issues of “meeting the basic needs of food and clothing, and guaranteeing compulsory education, basic medical care and housing”, and focused on the network poverty alleviation work in seven aspects, such as regions in deep poverty, groups in special poverty and archived poverty-stricken households. 3 In April, we submitted the work plan for the fifth batch of telecom universal services pilot projects, and MIIT approved the construction mission of 2,044 4G base stations. The construction in regions, including administrative villages, dwelling areas with more than 20 households within the territory of administrative villages, water conservancy facilities, resident dwelling areas with more than 20 households, and regions along roads, is required to be completed before the end of May 2020.

6. The fiber broadband access rate will rise to 98%, while the broadband access rate will reach 100% in the administrative villages of Tibet • The 4G network coverage rate will reach 98% Work Results 1 Before 2020 Second First By then, the communication coverage level will significantly improve in the region

7. Work Results 1 (3) Address User Affordability Statistics show that the communication charges have remarkably dropped from 2016 to 2019 Mobile traffic charges fell from 111 yuan/G to 6.6 yuan/G Mobile phone traffic charges fell from 109.7 yuan/G to 6.6 yuan/G 2016 2019 The above two charges have dropped by nearly 17 times on average; Mobile traffic charges Mobile phone traffic charges Figure 3 Mobile/mobile phone traffic charges have significantly dropped in the region

8. Work Results 1 (3) Address User Affordability Statistics show that the communication charges have remarkably dropped from 2016 to 2019 Internet broadband network charges Internet broadband network charges fell from 40.4yuan/month to 3.5 yuan/month Down by almost 11 times Internet broadband network charges 2019 2016 Figure 4 Internet broadband network charges have significantly decreased in the region

9. Work Results 1 (3) Address User Affordability • The above data indicate that the launch of the telecom universal services pilot project as well as the implementation of tariff reduction policy have enabled the communication industry in Tibet to benefit people, and allowed farmers and herdsmen to enjoy policy bonuses from the rapid development of the communication industry.

10. Work Results 1 (3) Address User Affordability Meanwhile, Tibet actively implements national policies, and pushes forward targeted network poverty alleviation To implement the arrangements of MIIT and the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development for increasing efforts in the targeted network poverty alleviation work, the communication industry of Tibet has launched favorable price packages suitable for archived poverty-stricken households in accordance with the industrial situation as well as economic conditions of the region. • Statistics show that China Telecom Tibet Branch has benefited 16104 archived poverty-stricken households with favorable charges by the end of the first quarter of 2019, with the discount amount of up to 4.8 million yuan (data is gathered from August 2018 to June 2019); China Mobile Tibet Branch has benefited 31535 archived poverty-stricken households with favorable charges, with the discount amount of 1.03 million yuan (data is gathered from June 2018 to June 2019).

11. Work Results 1 (4) Rural Application Popularization Deeply Benefit People with Information Bridge digital gap Through the implementation of telecom universal services, various regions and industries in Tibet have actively promoted the integration of Internet with agriculture and animal husbandry, tourism, education and other industries, which has greatly addressed the growing needs of farmers and herdsmen for production, living, education, medical care, etc. Various companies have promoted business products with multiple access rates, in combination with their own development. These products include China Telecom e-surfing HD, remote education, digital classroom, Mobile Box, rural information network, remote education for Party members, etc.

12. Rural Application Popularization Achieve “Internet + agricultural products” through telecom universal services Figure 4 Rural Information Service Website of Tibet Autonomous Region (economic and information technology department) Figure 5 Display of agricultural and animal husbandry products (economic and information technology department)

13. Work Results 1 Achieve “Internet + agricultural and animal husbandry education” through telecom universal services The Tibet Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Services has launched the “Internet + rural vocational education” system (bilingual), whose learning resources include: planting, animal husbandry, facility horticulture, agricultural machinery, etc. Figure 7 Rural education informatization Figure 7 Video tutorials Figure 8 Tibetan language teaching Figure 6 Internet + rural remote vocational education

14. Work Results 1 Achieve “Internet + basic education in agricultural and pastoral areas ” through telecom universal services The education department of Tibet has launched “Internet + basic education”, and achieved information technology education in village-level primary schools in the region through the telecom universal services pilot project. Figure 9 Students of Jiangtang Town Primary School in Gongga county, Shannan city experience information-based education clients

15. Work Results 1 Achieve “Internet + featured industries” through telecom universal services At present, the work team stationed at Qionglin Village in Milin county, Linzhi city, and the village Party branch committee as well as the villagers’ committee, have gradually formed a three-in-one development model of “featured industries + Geba-featured farm-based tourism + shops in scenic spots = income increase for people”, based on the opportunity of fiber broadband access and the concept of restructuring and development transformation, which has greatly promoted income increase for local people as well as the harmony and stability of the society. Figure 9 Local farmers publicize farm-based tourism via Internet

16. Work Results 1 Bring convenience to agricultural and pastoral areas through telecom universal services Through the implementation of telecom universal services, Kenken Village of Motuo county has achieved fiber broadband connections, which has substantially changed the life of local residents, and effectively driven local economy. Figure 10 Family members have their mobile phones get access to WiFi connections after China Telecom Tibet Branch launched fiber broadband for a villager in Kenken Village, Motuo county, Linzhicity. They also sell Motuo-featured stone pots on the Internet.

17. Work Results 1 Bring convenience to agricultural and pastoral areas through telecom universal services In the vast land of Tibet, through the transmission network built by telecom universal services, the sharing the “happiness on the fingertips” is no longer a dream for farmers and herdsmen, and a beautiful and harmonious Tibet is gradually taking off its mysterious veil and presenting itself to people all over the world. Figure 11 A household in Pula Village of Luoma town, Naqu county, Naqu city gets access to 100Mbps broadband network

18. Work Results 1 Information network improves the life of farmers and herdsmen Since 2016 -- Growing out of nothing, telecom universal services has changed the life of farmers and herdsmen Figure 12 A Tibetan woman experiences HD videos via network

19. Work Results -- Develop tourism in agricultural and pastoral areas through telecom universal services Broadband reaches thousands of families -- A story of how telecom universal services benefits people in Tibet A reporter of Tibet Daily 2019-02-27 09:40:22 Tibet DailyFengJi 566 “In the past, when tourists heard that my home did not get access to network, they would turn away, but now they are not only willing to live in my house, but also help me publicize it via WeChat and Weibo,” A villager in Qionglin Village, Milin county told the reporter, adding that network connections have broadened her vision, and brought economic benefits. Developing tourism is a key source of income for villagers of Qionglin Village. Today, villagers benefit from tourism while enjoying the convenience of telecom universal services Qionglin Village is a vivid miniature of farmers and herdsmen in the region to enjoy digital bonuses by means of telecom universal services. In the past few years, Tibet has regarded telecom universal services as a key project for improving people's livelihood, and various communication enterprises have actively popularized their business products with various access rates, such as China Telecom e-surfing HD, remote education and rural information network in combination with their own advantages, providing strong support for the poverty alleviation battle across the region. By the end of 2018, through the implementation of the first three batches of telecom universal servicespilot projects, 5,207 administrative villages and 208 neighborhood committees in Tibet have achieved fiber broadband connections of over 12Mbps. Through the network that has been completed, farmers and herdsmen in Tibet can not only watch HD videos and learn about policies of the Party and the country for the benefit of people, but can also make video calls with relatives working or studying outside of the hometown, and effectively popularize agricultural and sideline products as well as local tourism and culture. “The Party and the government have launched mobile signals for our village, and issued mobile phones for free, enabling us to contact our relative and friends in a more convenient way. In the future, we will continue to make good use of the Party's favorable policies, and get rid of poverty and become better off as soon as possible through our own efforts,” said a local in Jiacuo town, Dingri county, Rikaze city.

20. Work Results 1 Main Content Typical Practices 2

21. Typical Practices 2 Through the advance of telecom universal services in the past few years, we think that telecom universal servicesin Tibet has a few characteristics: poor condition, difficult implementation, novel thinking and united people

22. Figure 13 Dingba Village, Naixi town, Cuomei county, Shannan city, Tibet

23. Figure 14 Construction site of telecom universal services pilot project in the snowfield of Shuanghu county, Naqu city Figure 15 Welding site of telecom universal services pilot project in Shuanghu county, Naqu city

24. Figure 16 Fiber-optic cable handling of telecom universal services pilot project in Changdu city

25. Figure 17 Fiber-optic cable handling of telecom universal services pilot project in Linzhi city

26. Telecom universal services of Tibet in the eyes of reporters In early May 2018, the Department of Information and Communication Development, MIIT specially organized a few central media to launch an information-based poverty alleviation activity in Tibet. Through interviews and reports, they have truly presented the difficulty of the telecom universal serviceswork in the region.

27. Central media’s visit to Tibet for information-based poverty alleviation Upon the arrival of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD), MIIT organized media outlets to launch an information-based poverty alleviation campaign. Reporters from People’s Posts and Telecommunications News accompanying the media delegation paid visits to places in most difficult conditions, such as Naqu and Motuo, and experienced the firm resolution of Tibet to wholeheartedly and steadily push forward telecom universal services projects. The benefit of the nation and people comes from blood and sweat, and countless communication builders have fought for oxygen deficiencies and severe cold to bring the information network to deeper areas of the snowy plateau. Wind-horse flags, or prayer flags, which can be seen hanging throughout the Tibetan Plateau, can pass on best wishes to every corner with the wind. Just as the flags, fiber broadband is also able to bring new lifestyles and thoughts in the information age into a large number of households in the snowy plateau. 100Mbps broadband network reaches Tibetan families “Ali is so far away, while Naqu is too difficult!” Tibet is known as the roof of the world closest to the sky, while Naqu located in the northern Tibet Plateau is called the roof of the world roof, and even called a restricted area for lives in medicine. Pula Village is a high-cold village focusing on animal husbandry that is situated in Luoma town, Naqu, with an average altitude of more than 4,700 meters. Due to high altitude, cold, oxygen deficiencies and a vast territory with a sparse population, the village is a tough task during the information and communication infrastructure construction. Nowadays, with the profound advance of the telecom universal services pilot work in various regions of Tibet, this place has successfully got access to 100Mbps fiber broadband network.

28. Central media’s visit to Tibet for information-based poverty alleviation The construction conditions are extremely difficult Tibet has a high altitude and many rainy and snowy days, which always leads to road landslides or blockages. Besides, the construction conditions are extremely difficult, so the network construction requires a long cycle The road to Motuo is known as a road of life or death. People only know the Shu Road is difficult, but they didn’t know the road to Motuo is even more difficult. Located in the fault zone of the Himalayas and Motuo, geological activities have frequently occurred along the the 140km journey from Bomi to Motuo, and natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslide and mudslides may occur at any time, leaving sandstones, muddiness and potholes on roads. The distance of 35km from the main roads of Motuo to Kenken Village of Bangxing town is even more winding and dangerous.

29. Typical Practices Manpower and financial investments far exceed the returns Due to small business revenues and high maintenance costs for telecom service users in Tibet, telecom operators need to adopt internal cross subsidies to maintain the operation Cost reduction through joint construction and sharing In partnership with power grids and railways, telecom operators have achieved the opening and sharing of power and communication towers, and the synchronous design and construction of communication lines with high-speed rail lines Refer to the link: http://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1601480119537573453&wfr=spider&for=pc

30. Typical Practices Due to various constraint factors, all projects have failed in the process of public bidding, and most projects have still failed with the implementation of competitive consultations. In desperation, we have asked MIIT to communicate with enterprises through administrative assignments, urged enterprises to fulfill social responsibility, and organized and implemented single-source purchases in local areas. Adopt administrative assignments to innovate procurement mode To guarantee the launch of telecom universal services work on schedule, the Communication Administration Bureau of Tibet in partnership with the finance department, the economic and information technology department and local people’s governments formulated the Scheme on Pushing Forward Telecom Universal Services. It has specified responsibilities, established mechanisms, and set up a coordination promotion group. Besides, during the implementation of projects, the Administration has carried out the inspection of all links, such as normative management of projects, safe production, quality management and tariff application, on an irregular basis, and issued notices on prompt rectification and improvement of unqualified aspects. Problems facing enterprises during construction will be solved by the project promotion work group in a timely manner. Make promotion plans to guarantee the completion of projects as scheduled

31. Typical Practices To strengthen project management, and improve the construction efficiency, we have formulated various documents, such as Methods for the Acceptance of Projects after Completion, Measures for the Management of Project Evaluation and Project Confirmation Letter, in combination with the actual situation of Tibet, which have specified the scope, content and standard of project acceptance after completion, as well as project quality, safety and progress. Meanwhile, the villagers’ committees of administrative villagers and the staff of district and prefecture levels will sign and confirm the implementation situation of projects and leave phone numbers of equipment maintenance personnel, so as to provide service for villagers promptly during the use. Formulate acceptance and evaluation methods to ensure work standardization

32. Typical Practices We have established the “fiber broadband + 4G” account to conduct the unified management of fiber broadband connections and 4G signal coverage in agricultural and pastoral areas as well as remote areas, and provided basic support for information construction of various units as well as the rural revitalization strategy and digital rural construction. Establish fiber broadband + 4G account to achieve sharing of basic data

33. Typical Practices “Poor condition and difficult implementation” are our disadvantages, but the unity of people is a magic weapon of our work. To meet the desire of people in remote areas of Tibet for information, communication constructors in the region inherit the Old Tibetan Spirit of hard work, fight, endurance, unity and devotion in the new era, fight in the forefront of construction with the spirit of tenacious struggle, and walk through no man's land in extreme environments, so as to ensure the progress and quality, and solve problems of telecom universal services projects.

34. Last but not the least, telecom universal services in Tibet is an arduous task and the road is long, but with responsibilities on our shoulder, we find it our obligation to forge ahead.

35. Thank You!