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Alexander Wang

Alexander Wang specializes in antitrust/competition law, government affairs and regulatory matters.

Alexander is experienced in advising clients in a broad array of regulatory matters such as antitrust/competition, export control and national security review/FDI screening in connection with cross-border trade and investment. Previously Alexander served as an official of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), the Anti-Monopoly Bureau (predecessor of the now State Administration for Market Regulation, or SAMR), and the Office of Anti-Monopoly Commission of China’s State Council, where he participated in handling cases, making rules, and shaping policies in connection with China’s antitrust review of M&As and national security review of foreign investments. He also coordinated the antitrust law enforcement and competition policy making among the State Council and sixteen member ministries of the Anti-Monopoly Commission. Alexander has a deep and unique understanding of the way government mechanisms operate, and maintained sound working relationships with Chinese major regulatory authorities.

In April 2018, China released its nationwide automatic vehicle road testing rules, the Intelligent Internet-connected Vehicles Road Test Administrative Rules (for Trial Implementation) (the “National Rules”), which took effect on May 1, 2018. “Intelligent Internet-connected vehicles,” as defined under the National Rules, are commonly referred to as “intelligent vehicles” or “autonomous vehicles,” which involve a system of advanced sensors, controllers, actuators, etc. that may ultimately become a substitute for human drivers. The National Rules governs three categories of autonomous vehicles depending on the level of automation and human interaction required, i.e., conditional automation, high-level automation and full automation.

Prior to the release of the national Rules, selected Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Baoding and Chongqing had already implemented their own respective local road test rules for autonomous vehicles, and Shenzhen’s local proposals were at public consultation phase. The National Rules are largely consistent with the already existing various local rules, and provide an example for additional local governments to formulate their own detailed implementation rules.
Continue Reading IoT Update: China Releases National Automatic Vehicle Road Testing Rules

In 2017, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China’s telecom regulator and industrial policy maker, issued the Circular on Comprehensively Advancing the Construction and Development of Mobile Internet of Things (NB-IoT) (MIIT Circular [2017] No. 351, the “Circular”), which sets out the policy goals and plans for NB-IoT development in China and concrete steps in achieving them. NB-IoT is a form of Low-Power WAN (LPWAN) technology dependent on basic telecom carriers’ cellular networks using licensed frequencies.

Highlighting the advantages of mobile IoT (NB-IoT), namely, wide coverage, large amount of connections and low power consumption, the Circular stresses the importance of stepping up the construction of NB-IoT infrastructure, development of related applications, advancing the deployment of NB-IoT networks, and general promotion of innovation in this area in China.
Continue Reading Covington Internet of Things Update: China’s regulatory environment steps up for Low-Power WAN IoT deployment