Opening its CDMA network in Macao this week, China Unicom (CHU) has become the first Chinese telecom operator to run mobile communications services out of the Mainland.

Jiang Yaopin, vice minister of China's Ministry of Information Industry, says China Unicom will be able to not only provide excellent roaming service for overseas CDMA users when they visit Macao, but also offer different mobile services to Macao residents within a year.

At present, CDMA users who travel in Macao need to pay an international roaming fee, but after a period of time, preferential charges will be offered to CDMA users from the Mainland who visit Macao.

China Netcom obtained the license to run CDMA and trans-regional mobile communications services in Macao in March 2005. In May it received another permit to run the roaming service.