(Yicai Global) Dec. 21 -- China United Network Communications Group, one of the country's major mobile network operators, has extended its cooperation deals with China’s four internet giants of Alibaba Group Holding, Tencent Holdings, Baidu, and JD.Com.

The state-owned firm, better known as China Unicom, signed new contracts with the four on digital information infrastructure, cybersecurity, and talent cultivation over the coming five years, it said in a statement yesterday.

The previous deals were penned in 2017, when Beijing-based China Unicom added the four companies as strategic investors.

The partnerships encompass business, products, sales channels, devices, and capital, but there are some specializations. Over the five years, Baidu will help China Unicom in digital infrastructure, industrial upgrading, tech innovation, cybersecurity, and talent development, per their agreement.

Online retail platform JD.Com noted that it will jointly explore with the wireless carrier innovation in supply chains, cloud services, logistics, smart cities, and rural revitalization.

Tencent, which develops video games and runs WeChat, views telecoms as a field that needs to be further developed, Tao Daosheng, senior executive vice president, said in an interview with Yicai Global earlier this year. Tencent Cloud has set up a telecoms and smart industries division to work with carriers on business and technology.

Tencent will endeavor to bring cutting-edge experience and implementation methods in public cloud services and other technologies to carriers to improve their capabilities and serve their clients, Shen Ke, vice president of Tencent Cloud, said earlier. 

Shenzhen-based Tencent hopes that working with telecoms operators on business and technology will become a key partnership model between internet firms and carriers, Shen added. 

Editors: Liao Shumin, Emmi Laine, Xiao Yi