BEIJING -- The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced on Monday that it has granted China Mobile a license to operate satellite mobile phone service.

This means that the three major mobile phone service providers — China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom — are now all licensed to provide direct-to-cell satellite coverage for emergencies, maritime traffic and remote regions.

The ministry said it expects a competitive yet collaborative market that will make satellite connectivity more accessible to ordinary consumers.

It pledged to further streamline market entry for satellite communications, tighten security oversight, and guide the sector toward high-quality growth.