In addition to the networks, services and resources, the two companies will share each other's customer bases.
With the intention of tapping China's potential broadband Internet access market, Great Wall Broadband Network Service Co Ltd and China United Communications Co. have formed an all-round strategic union, with the two companies planning to consolidate each other's resources to jointly launch a new package of broadband-based Internet access services for Chinese web-surfers, including telecom services and terminal user-targeted services such as online gaming, distance education, movie playing and shopping.
GWBN will be responsible for the video transmission and distance education sectors and is expected to produce an interactive online TV program; China Unicom will be responsible for Internet Protocol telecom services and online gaming.
Under the strategic partnership agreement, GWBN's broadband networks will be connected to China Unicom's networks in backbone cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou and China Unicom's audio and video businesses will be linked to GWBN's Internet networks.