China’s three largest mobile operators have each confirmed they are in talks to set up a “base station company” – to share tower infrastructure – although they stress no agreement has yet been reached.

China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom each filed separate statements to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in response to media speculation that some form of network sharing might be on the cards.

China Mobile, in its filing, said the planned JV “aims to enhance the sharing of resources for the development of telecommunications infrastructure and lower operator costs and the costs for developing telecommunications networks”.

China Telecom said discussions were in the preliminary stage, while China Unicom said the establishment of the planned company would “enhance the sharing of resources”.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) also seems keen on the plan. According to MIIT’s website, reports Bloomberg, the new venture will promote environmental protection, cut costs and benefit users.