China Telecom (CHA) has set up an IPTV technology research and development laboratory in its Shanghai research institute.

The lab mainly aims at creating technical standards that are consistent with international standards for Chinese IPTV manufacturers and offering test and authorization services to IPTV platform and terminal suppliers throughout China.

Starting from 2005, China Telecom began cooperating with Shanghai Media Group to build IPTV labs in 17 cities in China and the cooperation range covers technologies such as video media services, live broadcast and information browsing. By May 2008, China Telecom's IPTV users had reached 1 million and the number is expected to be 2 million by the end of this year.

At present, the Chinese government has not issued any IPTV licenses to telecommunication operators directly. Instead, all IPTV services are jointly managed by IPTV broadcasting corporations and telecommunication operators.