Reborn since 1993

Chapter 1420: Kill but not bury

When Mr. Li from the Yangtze River asked Li Dongling about his views on the future of the telecommunications industry, the philanthropist Li Dongling did not hesitate and directly shouted out the word "3G" to express his judgment on the future development of the telecommunications industry.

The global telecommunications industry was just beginning its 2G era, and Mr. Li of Changjiang Telecom reaped the benefits.

After selling Orange Telecom, the Li family of Yangtze River will undoubtedly make a fortune, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Having tasted success, Mr. Li of Changjiang naturally wanted to go further. Although he exited the 2G market after selling Orange Telecom, it did not prevent him from continuing his next plan and laying out 3G!

If the 3G era arrives, Mr. Li will be able to sell his 3G business and make a fortune, just like he did with 2G today.

However, Mr. Li is still somewhat hesitant about whether or not to deploy 3G.

After all, 2G is still in the popularization stage, and the 3G standard has not yet been finalized. It is even more uncertain when 3G will be widely available in the future.

But the greater the risk, the greater the potential reward. Take Orange Telecom, for example. Mr. Li boldly entered the market back then, and his returns may have increased dozens of times over.

The risks of investing in the 3G market now are very high, but the returns will be enormous!
Asking Mr. Li, the philanthropist, for his views on the future development of the telecommunications industry was actually a way for him to consider the implications.

Upon hearing Li Dongling speak so frankly about 3G, Mr. Li, though trying to remain calm, couldn't help but feel tempted.

However, Boss Li could not show anything unusual, so he looked at Li Dongling with a slightly "curious" expression.

"Is Mr. Li optimistic about the future of the telecommunications industry as it enters the 3G era?"

Seeing Mr. Li's "casual" expression, Li Dongling's lips curled up slightly.

In terms of shrewdness, Li the Philanthropist may not be as good as Boss Li, but in terms of mutual understanding, Li Dongling believes he is far superior to his opponent.

Looking at the other party's actions in their previous life, they always liked to plan ahead and be the first to benefit, exchanging the lowest cost for the highest return.

For example, when developing land in the inland areas, Mr. Li's favorite approach is to buy land in the city center, hold it for a few years, and then resell it at a high price after the surrounding facilities such as schools, hospitals, shopping malls, public transportation, and even subways are fully developed. This can yield returns of several times or even dozens of times the initial investment.

In the telecommunications industry, Mr. Li also likes to maximize profits with minimal cost. In his previous life, after selling Orange Telecom, Mr. Li also hoarded 3G licenses in a number of old European countries such as the UK, Italy, Austria, Denmark, and Sweden at high prices.

They're betting on the arrival of the 3G era, hoping that with their licenses, they can make a fortune like Orange Telecom!
As it turned out, the 3G era did indeed arrive, but just like the classic phrase in "Saying Goodbye to Cambridge Again," 3G came quietly and left quietly, leaving behind nothing but a mess of unfinished 3G base stations, without taking a single trace.

Each upgrade in the communications industry takes at least ten years; it's not that technological breakthroughs will immediately lead to widespread adoption.

This is a complete process: first, standards are determined; then, mobile phones, base stations, and communication equipment that meet the standards are developed; then, once the technology is mature, telecommunications operators spend hundreds of billions to deploy base stations, and the new generation of mobile phones begins to be sold.

However, 3G was born at the wrong time. It was popular for less than four or five years, and before base stations were even widespread, 4G appeared, and then that was the end of it!
It's not that 3G is off-limits; we'll definitely be involved. But as for going all in, forget it. Li Dashanren (Li Keqiang) certainly won't let Dongling High-Tech and Cyberport go all in on 3G.

But that's another matter. After all, the great philanthropist Li was just giving some "suggestions." Whether people believe it or not is up to them, and has nothing to do with the great philanthropist Li.

"The 2G era will eventually pass, and the future belongs to the 3G era!"
Following this year's International Mobile Congress, the 3G standard has been finalized, ushering in a new era for the telecommunications industry!

Facing Mr. Li of the Yangtze River, Li Dongling boasted without restraint, "City Telecom, a subsidiary of Cyberport, will attempt to make City Telecom the world's first 3G city after the 3G standard is implemented!"

"Not only in Hong Kong, but also in overseas markets, Hong Kong City Telecom will seek new opportunities!"

Upon hearing that Li Dongling wanted to have Hong Kong Telecom build the world's first city with 3G communication coverage, Mr. Li and the Li family of Cheung Kong all had slight changes in expression.

Such a goal and tone are truly frightening, and Li Dongling's ambition is almost impossible to conceal.

Hong Kong City Telecom's ambitions clearly extend beyond Hong Kong; it also aims to enter overseas markets, including, in some cases, the traditional European market.

It's no wonder that the Li family on the Yangtze River side is having all sorts of wild speculations; it's just that Li the Great's words are too easy to make connections.

Furthermore, given the scale of Li Dongling's actions since arriving in Hong Kong, who dares to say whether he's serious or just joking?

What if it's for real?

Now, the philanthropist Li has revealed his hand. Without needing to test him, he's already clamoring to go all in on 3G. The question is, will the Li family of the Yangtze River follow suit?
"Mr. Li is indeed very generous. I believe Hong Kong will definitely become the world's first 3G city!" Mr. Li complimented the philanthropist, but Li Dongling couldn't tell whether he was telling the truth or not.

However, Li Dongling won't be the one to worry now. The one who should be worried next is Boss Li of Changjiang. Let's see if he will go all in on 3G in old Europe, acquire 3G technology and licenses, and frantically develop 3G!
Li Dongling's move today is a diversionary tactic, a telecom version of Star Wars. Once the Li family of the Yangtze River falls into the trap, it will be at least five or even ten years before they can get out. The sunk costs are too high. They have invested a lot of money and resources. How can they easily give up 3G?

3G itself is not wrong, but it was born at the wrong time. What really made 3G useful was the arrival of the smartphone era, which made the concept of 3G popular.

The Li family of the Yangtze River should just go all in on 3G. In a few years, the philanthropist Li will bring Shenzhou smartphones and help the Li family of the Yangtze River escape the 3G trap.

Of course, whether 4G would become widespread at that time, or whether Shenzhou mobile phones would suddenly switch to 4G, was beyond Li Dashan's control.

If the Li family of Changjiang really falls into the 3G trap, the philanthropist Li will give them a chance. However, whether this chance will be a chance to get out of the trap or a chance to fall into the abyss again remains to be seen!
Li Dongling personally escorted Mr. Li from the Yangtze River Building out of the Dongke Building. The number of reporters waiting outside had increased compared to before.

Upon seeing the reporters in front of the building, Mr. Li and Li Dongling exchanged a glance, and both of them simultaneously frowned. Then, in front of the reporters, Mr. Li walked away angrily, and the philanthropist Li also turned and left directly, without even bothering with formalities.

Upon seeing this, the reporters waiting outside the Dongke Building were instantly excited, feeling like they had captured a major news story today!

Cheung Kong Group and Cyberport, two major port city giants, have fallen out!

The Li family of the Yangtze River and Asia's richest man have completely clashed, and the two families with hundreds of billions of yuan are staging a battle of the century!

Suspected to be caused by Orange Telecom, Asia's richest man is dissatisfied with the Li family of Cheung Kong, and the building is facing left and right at the scene!
The group of media reporters in front of the East Taiwan Science Park had already come up with their headlines, and then immediately dispersed to prepare to release a major news story that would shake the city.

Back inside the Dongke Building, Lin Xianhui couldn't help but ask Li Dashanren, "Mr. Li, is Hong Kong City Telecom really going to bet on 3G?"

Li Dongling's confident promises, especially his ambition to make the port city the world's first 3G communication city, impressed Lin Xianhui, as this was something only a philanthropist like Li would do.

"What do you say?"

Li Dongling glanced at Lin Xianhui and then asked, "There are some things that can be said, but not done!"

"3G communication is indeed the future, but some things are born at the wrong time!"

"Hong Kong City Telecom doesn't need to be too insistent on obtaining overseas 3G licenses. If we can get them, we will; if not, so be it!"

Upon hearing Li Dongling's words, Lin Xianhui immediately realized that the philanthropist Li had just made a grand promise to the Li family of the Yangtze River. Just thinking about it made Lin Xianhui's scalp tingle.

If the Li family of Changjiang really believed this explanation and went all in on 3G, Lin Xianhui couldn't even imagine how wonderful that scene would be.

"However, if 3G does not perform as expected in the future, there may be no turning back between us and the Li family of Cheung Kong!"

If the Li family of the Yangtze River were to fall into this trap, the two sides would become true mortal enemies, constantly undermining and sabotaging each other.

Upon hearing this, Li Dongling scoffed, "Everyone has to be responsible for their own choices. We're all adults; we can't let others pay for our mistakes!"
Furthermore, do you think there's still a chance for Cyberport, or even Dongling Hi-Tech, to become allies with the Lee family of Cheung Kong?

Lin Xianhui opened his mouth but didn't say anything. Cyberport and the Li family of Cheung Kong have never been allies since Hong Kong City Telecom was acquired.

To put it bluntly, Hong Kong is only so big. The position of the city's largest company and the largest family is a limited one, and it's not something that can be given up for no reason!

“For Cyberport, this situation might be the best one right now!” Li Dongling said quietly.

If they can really lead the Li family of the Yangtze River into a trap, given their continuous large-scale overseas investments over the years, they will definitely place the main battlefield for 3G in old Europe.

By then, the Li family of Cheung Kong, having transferred all their funds and resources elsewhere, will have their strength in Hong Kong further weakened. This is actually a good thing for Cyberport, as it will be less pressured and can continue to expand its advantages in Hong Kong.

Cyberport can gladly accept the vacancy vacated by the Li family of Cheung Kong.

Furthermore, given that Cyberport is located in Hong Kong, the reason why Beijing is so supportive of Cyberport is that it hopes Cyberport can bring about changes in Hong Kong and prevent the major powers in Hong Kong from banding together to exclude outsiders.

If Cyberport comes here just to gain the so-called support of the local faction in Hong Kong, and gets involved with the Lee family of Cheung Kong and other British conglomerates, will Cyberport still be able to get as much support as it does in Beijing?
Cyberport can only part ways with the wealthy families and conglomerates led by the Li family of Cheung Kong, who previously had close ties with British capital. This is Cyberport's fate. Change this, and its destiny will change!
(End of this chapter)