China Telecom (0728.HK) intends to provide mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) services in the U.K. next year, reports cctime.com.

According to Ou Yan, manager of China Telecom’s European branch, the MVNO business will target the Chinese community in Britain and Chinese tourists.

Ou estimates the size of the market for the MVNO service to be about 800,000.

Besides China Telecom, other MVNOs operating in the U.K. include Lebara and Vectone which target the Chinese market.

China Telecom’s European branch was founded in September, 2006. After its entry into the U.K, market, the company will next enter the French and German markets, added Ou.

China Telecom is the largest CDMA (code division multiple access) operator in the world. It has 90.52 million customers in China.