Jul 19, 1994 CE
China Unicom Founded
China United Telecommunications Corporation (China Unicom) is established as the second state-owned telecom operator in China, breaking the monopoly of China Telecom. #telecom #china
Chronological Storyline (40 Milestones)
Jun 21, 2000 CE
IPO on NYSE and HKSE
China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising billions in capital for expansion. #ipo #telecom
Jan 8, 2002 CE
Launches CDMA Network
China Unicom launches its CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) mobile network, offering an alternative to GSM technology and aiming for better voice quality. #cdma #telecom
Nov 1, 2004 CE
Acquires China Netcom Stake
China Unicom acquires a 51% stake in China Netcom, expanding its fixed-line and broadband businesses. #merger #telecom
Dec 21, 2005 CE
Appoints Chang Xiaobing as Chairman
Chang Xiaobing is appointed chairman of China Unicom, leading the company through a period of rapid growth and network expansion. #leadership #telecom
Oct 15, 2008 CE
Merger with China Netcom
China Unicom merges with China Netcom to form New China Unicom, creating a unified fixed-line and mobile operator. The merger is part of China's telecom restructuring. #merger #telecom
Jan 7, 2009 CE
Receives 3G License
China Unicom receives a 3G license for WCDMA technology from the Chinese government, enabling high-speed mobile data services. #3g #telecom
May 17, 2009 CE
Launches 3G Services
China Unicom officially launches its 3G network under the 'Wo' brand, offering mobile broadband and video calling services. #3g #telecom
Jan 1, 2010 CE
Reaches 100 Million Subscribers
China Unicom's total mobile subscribers surpass 100 million, driven by 3G adoption. #subscribers #telecom
Sep 25, 2010 CE
Signs iPhone Deal with Apple
China Unicom signs a multi-year agreement with Apple to offer the iPhone in China, becoming the first Chinese carrier to sell the device. #apple #iphone #telecom
Nov 1, 2011 CE
Launches 3G Video Call Service
China Unicom introduces a nationwide 3G video calling service, enhancing its mobile multimedia offerings. #3g #video
May 17, 2012 CE
Reaches 200 Million Subscribers
China Unicom's mobile subscriber base exceeds 200 million, reflecting strong growth in the 3G market. #subscribers #telecom
Dec 4, 2013 CE
Receives 4G License
China Unicom receives a 4G TDD-LTE license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, preparing for next-generation mobile services. #4g #lte
Mar 18, 2014 CE
Launches 4G Services
China Unicom officially launches its 4G LTE services, offering faster mobile internet speeds and improved network performance. #4g #telecom
Nov 1, 2014 CE
Introduces Hybrid 4G Plans
China Unicom introduces shared data plans for families and multi-device users, a first in China. #4g #plans
Jul 15, 2015 CE
Reaches 300 Million Subscribers
China Unicom's mobile subscribers cross 300 million, driven by 4G adoption. #subscribers #telecom
Jan 1, 2016 CE
Abolishes Domestic Roaming Charges
China Unicom eliminates domestic roaming fees for voice calls, responding to government calls for lower tariffs. #roaming #telecom
Oct 1, 2016 CE
Appoints Wang Xiaochu as Chairman
Wang Xiaochu is appointed chairman of China Unicom, succeeding Chang Xiaobing who was investigated for corruption. #leadership #telecom
Oct 27, 2017 CE
Completes Share Issue to Strategic Investors
China Unicom completes the issuance of shares to strategic investors under the mixed-ownership reform, marking a major step in state enterprise reform. #reform #investment
Apr 26, 2018 CE
Launches First 5G Trial Network
China Unicom launches its first 5G trial network in Beijing, testing ultra-high-speed mobile communications. #5g #telecom
Dec 1, 2018 CE
Reaches 400 Million Subscribers
China Unicom's mobile subscriber base hits 400 million, with 4G users accounting for over 70%. #subscribers #telecom
Jun 6, 2019 CE
Receives 5G Commercial License
China Unicom receives a 5G commercial license from the Chinese government, along with China Telecom and China Mobile. #5g #license
Nov 1, 2019 CE
Launches 5G Commercial Services
China Unicom officially launches its 5G commercial network, offering high-speed data services in major cities. #5g #telecom
Mar 23, 2020 CE
Reports 2019 Net Profit Decline
China Unicom reports a 2019 net profit drop of 11.1% to $1.8 billion, amid intense competition and rising 5G costs. #financials #telecom
Aug 12, 2020 CE
First-Half Revenue Decline
China Unicom reports a 1.5% decline in first-half 2020 revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic and tariff cuts. #covid19 #telecom
Dec 31, 2020 CE
Forced Delisting from NYSE
The New York Stock Exchange announces the delisting of China Unicom's American Depositary Shares due to a US executive order targeting Chinese military-linked companies. #delisting #sanctions
Jan 11, 2021 CE
Delisting Completed
China Unicom's shares cease trading on the NYSE, completing the delisting process. The company remains listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. #delisting #stockmarket
Mar 11, 2021 CE
Reports 2020 Net Profit Growth
China Unicom reports a 10.8% rise in 2020 net profit to $1.6 billion, driven by cost controls and 5G subscriber growth. #financials #telecom
Jul 25, 2021 CE
Announces Cloud Computing Partnership
China Unicom partners with Huawei and Alibaba to develop cloud computing services, expanding beyond telecom. #cloud #partnership
Nov 1, 2021 CE
Launches 5G Standalone Network
China Unicom launches its 5G standalone (SA) network, offering lower latency and network slicing capabilities. #5g #standalone
May 9, 2022 CE
Forms Joint Venture with Tencent
China Unicom and Tencent establish a joint venture to develop digital services and cloud computing, leveraging Tencent's technology. #jointventure #tencent
Aug 17, 2022 CE
Reports 2022 Half-Year Revenue Drop
China Unicom reports a 2.5% decline in first-half 2022 revenue due to slower 5G subscriber growth and economic headwinds. #financials #telecom
Mar 8, 2023 CE
Reports 2022 Revenue Increase
China Unicom reports a 7.5% rise in 2022 revenue to $52 billion, driven by industrial internet and cloud services. #financials #telecom
Jun 1, 2023 CE
Appoints Chen Zhongyue as Chairman
Chen Zhongyue is appointed chairman of China Unicom, replacing Wang Xiaochu. #leadership #telecom
Aug 22, 2023 CE
Launches 5G-Advanced Trial
China Unicom starts trials of 5G-Advanced (5.5G) technology in partnership with Huawei, aiming for speeds up to 10 Gbps. #5g #5gadvanced
Nov 1, 2023 CE
Reaches 550 Million Subscribers
China Unicom's total mobile subscribers surpass 550 million, with 5G users exceeding 200 million. #subscribers #telecom
Jan 31, 2024 CE
Reports 2023 Net Profit Growth
China Unicom announces a 12% increase in 2023 net profit to $2.1 billion, driven by cloud and digital services. #financials #telecom
Apr 16, 2024 CE
Launches AI-Powered Network Management
China Unicom introduces an AI-driven network management platform to optimize 5G performance and reduce energy consumption. #ai #telecom
Jul 1, 2024 CE
Expands into Space-Ground Network
China Unicom partners with satellite operators to develop a space-ground integrated network, enabling coverage in remote areas. #satellite #telecom
Oct 15, 2024 CE
Number of 5G Subscribers Exceeds 300 Million
China Unicom achieves 300 million 5G subscribers, capturing a significant share of China's 5G market. #5g #subscribers