China Telecom (NYSE: CHA; 0728.HK) has announced that it has received a Class A Online Mapping Services license from China's State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping (SBSM), authorizing it to operate national mapping and location information services. With the new license, China Telecom will be able to provide mapping-related value-added services including map search, location information and notation, and map downloads.

China Telecom said that there were currently more than 200 applications and products offering location-based services to its enterprise and individual clients.