National

Regional

Taiwan, HK, Macao

Special Coverage

Focus

Society

Profiles

Xinjiang to 'compensation' for disrupted telecom, Net services

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-29 11:38

URUMQI: Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region said Tuesday it would "compensate" mobile subscribers and Internet users for services that were disrupted by the deadly riot of July 5.

"Telecom companies will compensate users either by reducing fees or extending service terms," the regional government's press office said in a statement late Tuesday night.

Special coverage: Riot in Urumqi Related readings:  Short message service coming back in Xinjiang  Xinjiang to provide more telecom services  Post-riot Xinjiang opens six counseling service hotlines  Xinjiang doubles compensation for bereaved families

Internet connection and mobile text message services were cut in some areas of Urumqi shortly after the July 5 riot. Top Urumqi official Li Zhi said it was aimed to "quench the riot quickly and prevent violence from spreading to other places".

The regional communications administration said Wednesday that telecom services were gradually being restored. "We have reopened online banking, security, recruitment and some e-commerce services," a spokesman with the administration said.

Mobile subscribers in Xinjiang are now able to receive certain text messages including weather forecasts and notices from the local government, he said. "Other services will be restored gradually."