Following the earthquake in Sichuan, a number of foreign telecom operators have lent a hand for China's disaster relief by either donating money or offering other services.

Telefonica, the second largest telecom operator in Europe and a strategic partner of China Netcom, has announced plans to donate CNY10 million targeted at children in the disaster areas.

SK Group's affiliates, including SK Telecom and SK Energy, have donated CNY10 million to the Red Cross Society of China and they say that the other CNY200,000 donated by the companies' employees will soon be handed over the RCSC too.

In addition, Telstra, a major telecom service provider from Australia, has announced plans to offer free toll telephone service for fixed phone users who make phone calls to Sichuan from May 17 to May 26.