China Selects Six 3G Cities

November 6, 2006 - source: BWCS

The Chinese government has announced plans to launch six, 3G trial networks within a year. The move, which will see half a dozen major cities set up test systems, is designed to ease the launch of next generation mobile services in the country before the 2008 Olympics.

According to news sources within China, the cities where tests will be set up are: Tianjin, Shanghai, Qingdao, Qinghuangdao, Shenyang and Hong Kong. It seems that all six will involve trials of the home-grown 3G standard, the TD-SCDMA system. If the tests go well, it is understood that the Chinese-developed system will be used nationally. If not, it appears that the government will hedge its bets and only allow the TD-SCDMA system to be used in the major cities.

A spokesman for the nation's high-tech industry department, part of the National Development and Reform Commission, was quoted on the China Daily website as saying that China will deliver its commitment to launch the 3G service in cities where the 2008 Olympic Games will be held.

The spokesman was keen to stress that work on the TD-SCDMA, approved by the ITU, is "progressing and the technologies and products are maturing". It is still not yet clear when China will launch 3G services. So far, the government has delayed the licensing of next generation mobile services as it hopes to have the home-grown standard ready in time for any launch. Meanwhile, the world's equipment and handset vendors continue to prepare their ground as best they can in China without knowing exactly when a decision will be made.