(Yicai Global) Dec. 3 -- Chinese mobile users can jump ship from one telecom operator to another without changing their numbers in the city of Tianjin and the provinces of Hainan, Jiangxi, Hubei and Yunnan from Dec. 1.

These customers can switch operators via text message and their phone cards will reportedly be managed by a new operator within one hour afterwards, according to China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

China Mobile Communications subscribers can thus now use the network of China's other two telecom operators China Unicom and China Telecom without losing their numerical identity.

The new policy still has a long way to go before its nationwide implementation. Technical difficulties persist as technologies further improve, Luo Wen, MIIT deputy minister, noted in March. The policy will take effect nationwide in 2020 when all the  pilots conclude, he added.

China's main three major telecoms must develop substantial products to meet users' needs for fear of being eliminated with the advent of fifth-generation cellular mobile communications looming.

Editor: Ben Armour