The China Unicom (CU), China's major mobile operator, will build 102 base stations along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to raise its network coverage to 90 percent along the route. (Xinhua Photo) 

The China Unicom (CU), China's major mobile operator, will build 102 base stations along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to raise its network coverage to 90 percent along the route, according to the company's Tibet Branch.

The project is considered costly and difficult to transmit mobile signals in the sparsely-populated section from northern Tibet's Nagqu to Qinghai Province's Golmud, said Liu Songguo, vice general manager of the branch.

"Despite high risks, we still believe that such an investment will offer us new business opportunities and boost Tibet's economic development indirectly. With this project, we will be able to meet our users' needs for mobile communications better, enabling them to enjoy our services even in no-man areas on the plateau.

Meanwhile, the branch also plans to set up business offices in all the counties of Tibet, making its network accessible to the whole region.

At present, residents in Tibet's 48 counties can enjoy the CU's services and the rest 23 counties are expected to be accessible to the network later this year.