Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06BEIJING12988, VOIP IN CHINA - NOT UNTIL CHINA's TELECOM

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06BEIJING12988.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06BEIJING12988 2006-06-20 03:39 2011-08-23 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Beijing
VZCZCXRO4130
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH
DE RUEHBJ #2988/01 1710339
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200339Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9634
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
INFO RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 6579
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0854
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7679
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 4993
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 6387
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI 5733
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1185
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 012988 
 
SIPDIS 
 
USDOC FOR DAS LEVINE AND 4420/ITA/MAC/CEA/MCQUEEN 
STATE PASS USTR 
USTR FOR STRATFORD/WINTER/MCCARTIN/GRIER 
USTR FOR MCHALE/WINELAND 
TREASURY FOR OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT 
TREASURY FOR OASIA/ISA-DOHNER AND KOEPKE 
GENEVA PASS USTR 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EINV ECPS PGOV ASEC WTRO CH
SUBJECT: VOIP IN CHINA - NOT UNTIL CHINA's TELECOM 
COMPANIES ARE READY 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Enthusiasm in China for Voice Over 
Internet Protocol (VoIP) was evidenced by over 1,400 
registered attendees at a June 14-16 China VoIP Conference 
& Expo in Beijing.  While VoIP technology is mature and 
software like Skype is but a download away, China's VoIP 
companies are faced with not only regulatory, security and 
legal obstacles but also by the fact that China Telecom is 
exerting massive pressure on the Chinese Government to rein 
in VoIP. End Summary. 
 
The Conference 
-------------- 
 
2. (U) Organized by the Hong Kong based InfoEx World 
Services, the June 14-16 China VoIP Conference & Expo in 
Beijing included Chinese Government officials such as 
senior officials from the Ministry of Information Industry 
(MII) and from the Chinese Academy of Telecommunications 
Research, as well business representatives such as senior 
managers from China Telecom, Unicom, Netcom and hardware 
producers such as Intel, IBM, Avaya, ZTE and UTStarcom. 
Most strikingly, the organizer of the conference confirmed 
that many of the attendees were in their twenties or 
thirties with most running their own small (around ten 
people) niche companies. 
 
VoIP: A History and Why It Scares the Chinese Government 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
3. (U) VoIP is the routing of voice conversations over the 
Internet.  The concept of VoIP has been around since the 
early 70's and today's version is the commercialization of 
a Network Voice Protocol created for the Department of 
Defense's ARPANET in 1973.  VoIP uses packet switching 
technology where data is cut up into small packages, sent 
over several machines and then reconstituted when the data 
reaches its destination.  This is in contrast to circuit 
based technology where a single dedicated line is used for 
the duration of a call.  It is the nature of packet 
switching technology that is the major concern for the 
Chinese Government, regulators and watchdogs. 
 
The Problems 
------------ 
 
4. (SBU) Mr. Xu Heyuan, Senior Engineer at the Research 
Institute of Telecommunications Research of MII, admitted 
to Econoff that, despite a ban, VoIP is widely available 
and in use in China but that issues of security and 
emergency calling still have to be resolved.  Mr Xu did not 
elaborate as to what kind of security problems need to be 
resolved but indicated that content was a factor.  In 
contrast to security issues he underlined how emergency 
calling is the key problem.  (Note:  Since VoIP uses the 
Internet to route calls there is no fixed physical location 
for emergencies responders to track calls unless the caller 
states an address.  End Note.)  However the Vice President 
(VP) of Germany based semiconductor company Infineon stated 
that because packet switching involves the breaking down of 
data into tiny unrecognizable pieces of information it is 
extremely difficult and astronomically expensive to set up 
a system to track and monitor the content of PC to PC 
calls.  The only way a government can prevent PC to PC 
calls is to block users from downloading the software or by 
imposing and enforcing strict penalties.  China has already 
blocked companies like Skype from offering PC to Phone 
services by not allowing them to set up gateways in China 
and postponing the issuance of operating licenses until at 
least 2008.  A further obstacle for VoIP is that in order 
for it to function effectively a broadband or DSL 
connection is optimal.  However, outside of China's larger 
cities broadband is not widely available leading to quality 
of service issues. 
 
 
BEIJING 00012988  002 OF 002 
 
 
Stacking the Deck 
----------------- 
 
5. (SBU) The Infineon VP and the Asia Pacific VP for Intel 
both stated that the Chinese Government has purposely yet 
to offer any clear guidance, either legal or regulatory, 
concerning the deployment of VoIP service in China. 
Financially, it is much cheaper to maintain a VoIP network 
but companies like China Telecom are stalling VoIP from 
becoming a mass market product for two reasons.  First, 
they have to recoup the massive investments they made to 
build up a traditional circuit based telephony 
infrastructure in China.  Second, the government is giving 
domestic telcos time to build up the necessary 
technological and marketing know-how before launching their 
own VoIP services.  The Intel VP said that allowingthe 
liberalization of the market at this timewould create the 
legal platform for foreign cmpanies like Skype to press 
the government for equal market access before the domestic 
tecos are ready t enter the fray.  As a result, China 
Telecom, backed by the State-owned Asset Supervision and 
Administration Commission (SASAC) has pushed MII to block 
PC to Phone services in China but also made sure that this 
edict is not enforced for domestic companies.  Thus, this 
opaque equation means that the VoIP market in China can 
thrive "illegally" with the charge being led by the five 
domestic telecom companies - China Telecom, China Netcom, 
China Unicom, China Mobile and China Railcom. 
 
The Real Deal 
------------- 
 
6. (SBU) According to the Chief Technology Officer of U.S. 
media gateway company Cantata, there are over 4,000 
underground VoIP operators in China not including the major 
telcos that offer their own tiered calling services.  He 
explained that these underground VoIP sellers go to 
companies and sell them the technology and hardware to 
allow companies or individuals to access existing telecom 
lines via the VoIP route.  Meanwhile, China Telecom has 
also begun running VoIP trials, but in order to make sure 
that its bottom line is not affected, these trials are 
being conducted in rival China Netcom's operating 
territories.  Furthermore, the domestic telcos are fooling 
their customers by pitching traditional telephony services 
in the guise of VoIP services.  (Note:  Accessing this VoIP 
service is done by buying an access card available at many 
retail stores in Chinese cities.  End Note).  However, the 
quality of this service is deliberately poor allowing the 
telcos to both pitch their more expensive premium services 
and to also dampen the enthusiasm for VoIP until they are 
ready to launch it themselves as such.  And launch it 
themselves they will. 
 
The Future of VoIP 
------------------ 
 
7. (SBU) The Asia Pacific VP for Intel believes that VoIP 
has a bright future in China.  The technology has already 
been deployed in many countries around the world and VoIP 
offers Chinese telecom companies a clear path to reduce 
their operating costs and to create a stream of cheap Value 
Added Services.  He went on to say that as broadband in 
China becomes more widely available customers will benefit 
from the lower cost per call that VoIP offers.  He predicts 
that when they are ready the telcos will tell their 
customers that the technology has now improved and will 
present high quality VoIP as either part of triple or quad 
play media packages or a single service such as Vonnage and 
Skype now offer in the United States. 
 
Randt